Tag: Pre scan diet

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are a crucial diagnostic tool, and their accuracy depends heavily on patient preparation, particularly the strict adherence to a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet. This preparation minimizes background glucose uptake, ensuring clear images of the areas being studied.

A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan utilizes a radioactive sugar, known as FDG, to track metabolic activity, making a strict pre-scan diet absolutely crucial. This protocol raises many specific dietary questions, with "Can I have hummus before a PET scan?" being a common one. The straightforward answer is no, and understanding why is key to ensuring an accurate test.