Concierge imaging · London
Private PET-CT in London, read by a nuclear medicine physician.
A metabolic scan that shows biological activity as well as anatomy - the definitive test for many cancer questions, from staging to treatment response. Read by a nuclear medicine physician.
Why patients choose us
- 01
We justify every scan
PET-CT uses a radiotracer, so we only recommend it when the clinical question genuinely needs metabolic imaging - and say when it doesn’t.
- 02
Nuclear medicine reads
Every study is reported by a consultant nuclear medicine physician, not a general radiologist doing an occasional PET list.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private PET-CT costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner centres. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, including tracer-specific pricing.
In short
A whole-body FDG PET-CT in our network: £1,800–£2,800, reported in 3–7 days.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-body PET-CT (FDG) | £1,800–£2,800 | 2–3 hrs total | 3–7 days |
| PET-CT for suspected cancer | £2,000–£3,000 | 2–3 hrs | 3–7 days |
| Cardiac PET (viability) | £2,200–£3,400 | 2–3 hrs | 5–7 days |
| Amyloid / brain PET | £2,500–£3,800 | 2 hrs | 5–10 days |
| PSMA PET-CT (prostate) | £2,200–£3,200 | 2–3 hrs | 3–7 days |
| Follow-up PET-CT (surveillance) | £1,700–£2,600 | 2–3 hrs | 3–7 days |
Prices vary by tracer, centre and whether a diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT is added. Specialist tracers such as PSMA, DOTATATE and amyloid are meaningfully more expensive than standard FDG. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Anatomy alone isn’t always the answer.
A CT shows what things look like. A PET-CT shows whether they are metabolically alive. In cancer, that distinction is often the whole clinical question - is this active disease, or is it scar; is treatment working, or isn’t it.
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Staging a new cancer
Where else is it? PET-CT often finds disease that changes the plan.
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Is treatment working?
Metabolic response shows weeks earlier than change in size on CT.
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PSA rising after prostate treatment?
PSMA PET finds recurrence far earlier and more precisely than CT or bone scan.
The journey
From enquiry to report - what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to signed report - typically within a week, tracer supply permitting.
Phase 1 · Before your scan
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
~2–3 hours at the centre
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Diagnosis or suspected diagnosis, oncologist letter, prior imaging if you have it.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which tracer, which centre, indicative price. If PET isn’t the right test, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Bookings depend on tracer production windows, but we typically slot you within days. Insurer pre-authorisation handled.
- 04
On the day
Arrival, fasting check, injection
A short check on glucose, kidney function and pregnancy. The radiotracer is injected and you rest quietly for around an hour while it distributes.
- 05
On the day
In the scanner
The scan itself is 20–40 minutes. You lie on your back and the ring passes around you - open at both ends, far easier than an MRI tunnel.
- 06
On the day
Straight home, with a few rules
You can go home the same day. We ask you to keep some distance from young children and pregnant partners for around six hours as the tracer decays.
- 07
After
Report and next steps
Consultant nuclear medicine report in 3–7 days, routed same-day to your oncologist where relevant.
Typical end-to-end: 3–7 days. Specialist tracers: 5–10 days.
What it shows
What a PET-CT is genuinely best at.
PET-CT earns its place for specific questions - most of them in oncology, some in cardiology, neurology and infection. These are the ones we arrange most.
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Cancer detection
Highlights metabolically active tumours the anatomy alone may hide.
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Cancer staging
Maps the true extent of disease before treatment decisions are made.
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Treatment response
Shows whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy is actually working, weeks earlier than size change.
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Recurrence surveillance
Distinguishes active disease from post-treatment scar in patients under follow-up.
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Brain imaging
Amyloid and FDG brain PET support dementia and cognitive-decline work-up.
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Cardiac viability
Shows which areas of heart muscle are still alive and might recover with revascularisation.
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Inflammation & infection
Localises occult infection, large-vessel vasculitis and inflammatory activity.
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Red flags & appropriate use
Not a general screening tool - we only recommend PET when the clinical question fits it.
PET-CT scan types
Not all PET-CT scans are the same.
The tracer, not just the scanner, defines what the study can answer.
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Whole-body FDG PET-CT
The standard tracer - a glucose analogue that lights up most active cancers, infection and inflammation.
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PSMA PET-CT (prostate)
A prostate-specific tracer, far more sensitive than CT or bone scan for prostate cancer staging and recurrence.
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DOTATATE PET-CT (neuroendocrine)
A somatostatin-receptor tracer for neuroendocrine tumours, including small primaries CT can miss.
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Amyloid brain PET
Detects amyloid plaques in the brain, used in the work-up of suspected Alzheimer’s disease.
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Cardiac viability PET
Shows hibernating but living heart muscle before revascularisation decisions.
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PET-MRI (hybrid)
Combines PET metabolism with MRI soft-tissue detail - useful in pelvic, brain and paediatric work.
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Half-dose / low-dose protocols
Modern scanners and protocols can meaningfully reduce the radiation dose where clinically appropriate.
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Paediatric PET-CT
Weight-adjusted, low-dose protocols delivered in centres with paediatric nuclear medicine experience.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of PET centres, we picked them.
PET-CT is a small world - we work with a handful of centres across London that meet our standard. Not listed publicly; introductions are made privately once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every PET-CT centre in our network.
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CQC-registered PET-CT centres, with a current good or outstanding rating
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MHRA-licensed on-site or partner radiopharmacy for tracer supply
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Reported by consultant nuclear medicine physicians, not occasional readers
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Current-generation PET-CT scanners with modern reconstruction
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Reports routed same day to your oncology team where clinically relevant
Safety and eligibility
Radiotracer, fasting, and life on the day.
PET-CT is very safe when it is done properly. The rules - fasting, glucose, warmth, close-contact - exist because they materially change what the scan can see.
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Radiation dose
PET-CT delivers a moderate dose - around 7 mSv for a whole-body FDG study, higher than a standard CT. We only recommend it when the clinical benefit clearly outweighs the dose.
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Fasting before FDG PET
You must fast for around six hours before an FDG PET-CT. Water is fine. This keeps background glucose uptake low so tumours stand out.
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Blood glucose target
A finger-prick glucose is checked on arrival. We aim for a level below 11 mmol/L - high sugars degrade image quality.
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Keep warm and quiet after injection
You rest in a quiet room for around an hour after the tracer injection. Cold or activity drives uptake into muscle and brown fat and obscures findings.
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Pregnancy
PET-CT is avoided in pregnancy. Tell us and we will look at MRI or ultrasound alternatives.
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Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding usually needs to be interrupted for around 24 hours after FDG PET. We give you a written plan before the scan.
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Close contact after the scan
For around six hours we ask you to keep distance from young children and pregnant partners while the short-lived tracer decays.
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Iodinated CT contrast
A diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT may be added on top of the PET. Contrast safety, allergy history and metformin advice are handled separately.
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Kidney function
If iodinated contrast is planned, a recent eGFR is needed - the contrast is cleared by the kidneys.
Reading your report
A PET-CT report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
However complex the study, a PET-CT report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your oncologist, not for you - and that is normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Your details and the indication
Your details, the tracer used, and the clinical question - staging, response, recurrence or diagnosis.
- 02 Technique
Tracer, activity and phases
Which radiotracer was used, the administered activity in MBq, uptake time, and any delayed or contrast-enhanced phases.
- 03 Findings
Metabolic activity and pattern
A structured description of tracer uptake - location, pattern and SUV values (standardised uptake) - alongside anatomical CT correlation.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
The bottom line - cancer stage, response category (Deauville, PERCIST) or diagnostic conclusion. Your specialist discusses it in context.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about PET-CT.
Quick answers on cost, referral, radiation, fasting, tracers and results.
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What does a PET-CT show that a CT alone doesn’t?
CT shows anatomy - the size and shape of things. PET shows biological activity - how metabolically alive a lesion is. Combined, PET-CT can distinguish active cancer from scar, find disease hidden in normal-sized lymph nodes, and show whether treatment is actually working weeks earlier than a size change would.
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How much does a private PET-CT cost in London?
A whole-body FDG PET-CT is typically £1,800–£2,800 in our network. Specialist tracers such as PSMA, DOTATATE or amyloid are more expensive. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need a referral?
Yes - PET-CT is almost always arranged on the recommendation of a consultant, usually an oncologist. The dose and cost mean it should be clinically justified. If you don’t have a referral, we can arrange a fast-track private consultation.
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How much radiation is involved, and is it worth it?
A whole-body FDG PET-CT is around 7 mSv, higher than a standard CT and roughly two to three years of natural background radiation. For staging cancer, planning treatment or catching recurrence early, that trade-off is almost always justified.
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What are the fasting rules?
For FDG PET-CT you fast for around six hours before the scan. Water is fine, and essential medications can usually continue. High-sugar food or drink beforehand ruins the scan quality.
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I have diabetes - what should I do about my medication?
Blood glucose control matters - we aim for a level below 11 mmol/L on the day. We give you written instructions on when to take insulin or oral diabetes drugs, and time the appointment around your regime.
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Why is PET-CT mainly used for cancer?
Most cancers consume glucose faster than surrounding tissue, so FDG PET lights them up. It is uniquely good at staging, restaging and response assessment. Non-cancer uses - cardiac viability, dementia, occult infection - are real but narrower.
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When is PSMA PET used instead of FDG?
PSMA PET is prostate-specific and far more sensitive than CT or bone scan for prostate cancer - used for staging intermediate/high-risk disease and for finding recurrence when PSA rises after treatment.
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Can I breastfeed after a PET-CT?
Breastfeeding usually needs to be interrupted for around 24 hours after FDG PET so the tracer decays. Pump and discard during that window. We give you a written plan and confirm the exact interval for your tracer.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Most policies cover PET-CT when clinically indicated, referred by a consultant and pre-authorised. Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna and Healix recognise us, and we handle the pre-authorisation.
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In practice, in London
Booking PET CT privately in London - what actually happens
With PET CT, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The wait for PET CT on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.
A private PET CT pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. The consultants we work with hold NHS posts alongside their private lists, which keeps the standards consistent across both settings. For PET CT specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
The value of going through a concierge for PET CT isn’t access - anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.