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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