Concierge nuclear imaging · UK
PET-CT scan - staging, restaging, response.
A whole-body functional scan combining CT with FDG or PSMA positron emission. Booked in days, reported by a joint consultant nuclear-medicine and radiology team, and read alongside your oncologist’s plan.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A subspecialty consultant radiologist’s report
Body, MSK, neuro or uroradiology consultants read the scan that fits - not a generalist working through a list.
- 02
Booked in days, not weeks
Weekday, evening and weekend slots across London and the major UK cities.
- 03
Independent, and free
We take no fee from clinics, so the recommendation - including "don’t bother" - is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private PET-CT costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner imaging units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options, with cover checked.
In short
PET-CT in our network: £2,000–£3,500, report in 3–7 working days.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDG PET-CT (standard oncology) | £1,800–£2,600 | 2–3 h appointment | 3–7 working days |
| PSMA PET-CT (prostate) | £2,200–£2,800 | 2–3 h appointment | 5–7 working days |
| DOTATATE PET-CT (neuroendocrine) | £2,400–£3,200 | 2–3 h appointment | 5–7 working days |
| Choline PET-CT (prostate BCR) | £2,200–£2,800 | 2–3 h appointment | 5–7 working days |
| PET-CT + diagnostic CT with contrast | £2,600–£3,500 | 3 h appointment | 5–7 working days |
| Nuclear medicine consultation | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by tracer (FDG is standard; PSMA, DOTATATE and choline are premium) and by whether the scan is diagnostic-CT or attenuation-only.
The problem
PET-CT is powerful - but only for the right question.
FDG PET-CT changes management in a significant minority of oncology cases and is standard for lymphoma, lung, oesophageal, head-and-neck and melanoma staging. It is not a screening tool.
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Not a screening scan
PET-CT is a targeted tool. Radiation dose (5–10 mSv PET + CT) and false positives make it unsuitable for well-person screening.
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Tracer matches the question
FDG for most solid cancers, PSMA for prostate, DOTATATE for neuroendocrine, choline for prostate BCR when PSMA is unavailable.
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Read alongside your team
A PET-CT report is only useful when it feeds back into the oncology MDT and treatment plan.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through operation, histology and follow-up.
Phase 1 · Before
Workup, imaging, planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Theatre and recovery
Phase 3 · After
Review and follow-up
- 01
Before
Tell us what you’re staging
Diagnosis, prior imaging, your oncologist’s question.
- 02
Before
Tracer and centre matched
FDG, PSMA, DOTATATE or choline - booked at a centre with proven volume in your tumour type.
- 03
Before
Preparation instructions
6-hour fast, no strenuous exercise for 24 hours, warm clothing for the uptake wait.
- 04
On the day
Radiotracer injection
Small IV dose. Blood sugar checked. 60-minute quiet uptake wait in a warm room.
- 05
On the day
The scan
20–30 minutes lying still on the PET-CT scanner. Skull base to mid-thigh standard.
- 06
After
Consultant report
Joint nuclear medicine and radiology consultant report within 3–7 working days.
- 07
After
Back to your oncology team
Report and images shared with your oncologist for the treatment plan.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to reported scan.
When it helps
When PET-CT is the right step.
Cancer situations where PET changes management - plus the flag that means a different scan.
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Lymphoma staging and response
Deauville score at interim and end-of-treatment defines strategy.
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Non-small-cell lung cancer
Mediastinal nodes and distant spread - before curative surgery or radiotherapy.
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Oesophageal and head-and-neck cancer
Standard staging tool alongside endoscopy and MRI.
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Melanoma stage III/IV
Whole-body assessment for distant disease.
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Colorectal cancer restaging
Rising CEA or equivocal CT - PET clarifies recurrence.
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Unknown primary
Identifies the primary site in some cancer-of-unknown-origin presentations.
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Cardiac sarcoid or infection
Specialist non-oncology indications - different preparation.
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Red flag: don’t use as a screen
Well-person screening with PET-CT is not appropriate - dose, false positives, cost.
Procedure options
Tracers and protocols.
The tracer matches the tumour and the question.
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FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose)
Standard for most solid cancers and lymphoma. Uses glucose uptake.
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PSMA (gallium-68 or F-18)
Prostate cancer staging and recurrence - see the dedicated PSMA page.
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DOTATATE (gallium-68)
Neuroendocrine tumours - somatostatin receptor imaging.
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Choline (F-18)
Alternative to PSMA for prostate biochemical recurrence.
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FDG PET with diagnostic CT
Adds intravenous contrast CT for anatomic detail.
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Attenuation-only CT
Lower-dose CT for co-registration only; used when a diagnostic CT is already recent.
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Cardiac FDG protocol
Suppresses cardiac glucose uptake with fat-loading - for sarcoid and infection.
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Whole-body vs limited
Standard is skull base to mid-thigh; limbs and vertex added on request.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of radiologists, we picked them.
Consultant radiologists across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every consultant in our network.
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CQC-registered imaging centres with modern 1.5T/3T MRI, multislice CT or high-end ultrasound
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UK GMC-registered subspecialty consultant radiologists reporting the scan
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Same-week appointments including evenings and weekends across London and major UK cities
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Direct insurer preauth handling for Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA and Cigna
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
The safety profile is well understood. What matters is choosing the right test, and reading the report honestly.
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Modest radiation dose
PET-CT delivers 5–10 mSv (PET) plus CT - around 10–20 mSv total. Justified in cancer staging.
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Pregnancy
Contraindicated in pregnancy. A pregnancy test is done in women of childbearing age.
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Breastfeeding
Brief interruption of breastfeeding after some tracers - the centre gives written guidance.
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Contact precautions
Avoid close contact with pregnant women and young children for 12–24 hours after the scan.
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Blood sugar matters
High glucose reduces FDG uptake by tumour. Diabetic patients need careful preparation.
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False positives
Infection, inflammation and brown fat all take up FDG. A good report calls out benign uptake.
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False negatives
Small lesions under 8 mm and mucinous or low-grade tumours may be under-called.
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Claustrophobia
PET-CT scanners are open-bore; most patients manage without sedation.
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When to escalate
Fever, severe back pain or new neurology after diagnosis - call your oncology team the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever centre does the scan, the report keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the operation note and any histology before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Tracer, dose and protocol
Radiotracer used, injected dose, uptake time and region scanned.
- 02 Findings
Site-by-site uptake
Every abnormal focus with SUVmax, size and anatomic location.
- 03 Comparison
Change from prior imaging
Response to treatment, new sites, progression or stability.
- 04 Impression
Deauville / response category
Read this first - a summary aligned to your tumour’s response criteria.
Recognised by major UK insurers
PET-CT is usually covered by UK private medical insurance for oncology indications with a specialist referral. Non-oncology PET (cardiac, infection) may need preauth.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about pet-ct scan.
Quick answers on approach, recovery, risks and cost.
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What is PET-CT good for?
Cancer staging, restaging, response assessment and suspected recurrence - especially lymphoma, lung, oesophageal, head-and-neck, melanoma and prostate cancer. Also cardiac sarcoid and some infection questions.
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How much does a private PET-CT cost in the UK?
FDG PET-CT £1,800–£2,600, PSMA PET-CT £2,200–£2,800, DOTATATE £2,400–£3,200. Adding diagnostic contrast CT pushes towards £3,500.
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Is PET-CT covered by UK private insurance?
Usually yes when there’s a clear oncology indication and an oncologist referral. Bupa, AXA and Vitality routinely cover FDG PET-CT for standard indications.
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How much radiation is involved?
Around 10–20 mSv total (PET + CT), roughly 3–7 years of background radiation. Justified for staging cancer.
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Can I eat or drink before?
Fast for 6 hours before FDG. Water is fine. Diabetic patients need specific instructions. No strenuous exercise for 24 hours as muscle uptake obscures the scan.
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How long does the appointment take?
Two to three hours: cannulation, tracer injection, 60-minute uptake wait, 20–30 minute scan, brief recovery.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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PSMA PET scan
Prostate-specific PET-CT.
Learn more -
Prostate mpMRI
MRI before biopsy and staging.
Learn more -
Private CT scan
Anatomic CT staging.
Learn more -
Private MRI scan
Local staging where MRI is superior.
Learn more -
Full-body MRI health screen
Not a PET alternative - different tool.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test we arrange.
Learn more