PET-CT for testicular cancer: what to know

The scan uses a small amount of a radiotracer, often FDG, which is taken up by cells using glucose. The CT part maps organs and lymph nodes, while the PET part shows areas of increased activity. Activity can occur with cancer, infection or inflammation, so a bright area is not a diagnosis by itself. In testicular cancer, the team may use imaging to look for disease outside the testicle, assess a response after treatment, or investigate a remaining mass. The result is interpreted alongside examination, blood tests and earlier scans.

Follow the imaging centre's instructions about eating, drinking and medicines. Tell the team if you have diabetes, may be pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have difficulty lying still. Wear comfortable clothing and remove metal items when asked. After the tracer is given, you usually rest quietly before imaging and then lie on the scanner table while it moves through the camera. Plan to drink fluids afterwards if your team advises it. Ask how the result will affect the next decision, such as surveillance, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Fertility planning can also be discussed before treatment; see [Fertility Preservation](/treatments/fertility-and-assisted-reproduction/fertility-preservation/).

A scan appointment is not an emergency assessment. Contact your oncology team promptly for new severe pain, rapidly increasing swelling, heavy bleeding, repeated vomiting, inability to pass urine, or breathlessness. Seek urgent help for sudden chest pain, fainting or severe difficulty breathing. If you develop a rash, swelling of the face or trouble breathing soon after an injected medicine, treat it as an emergency. The imaging team can explain which symptoms after your scan are expected and which require review.

Ask why PET-CT is being recommended now, what other imaging has shown, whether the scan changes staging or treatment, and when the report will be discussed. You can also ask how [Testicle Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-oncology/orchidectomy/) fits into the plan, and whether [Chemotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/chemotherapy/) or [Radiotherapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/radiotherapy/) is being considered.