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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.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private PET-CT costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK imaging units.

In short

£2,000–£3,500, report in 3–7 working days.

Procedure Indicative range
FDG PET-CT (standard oncology) £1,800–£2,600
PSMA PET-CT (prostate) £2,200–£2,800
DOTATATE PET-CT (neuroendocrine) £2,400–£3,200
Choline PET-CT (prostate BCR) £2,200–£2,800
PET-CT + diagnostic CT with contrast £2,600–£3,500
Nuclear medicine consultation £250–£450

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.

  • 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.

  • Tracer matches the question

    FDG for most solid cancers, PSMA for prostate, DOTATATE for neuroendocrine, choline for prostate BCR when PSMA is unavailable.

  • Read alongside your team

    A PET-CT report is only useful when it feeds back into the oncology MDT and treatment plan.

When it helps

When PET-CT is the right step.

Cancer situations where PET changes management - plus the flag that means a different scan.

  • Lymphoma staging and response

    Deauville score at interim and end-of-treatment defines strategy.

  • Non-small-cell lung cancer

    Mediastinal nodes and distant spread - before curative surgery or radiotherapy.

  • Oesophageal and head-and-neck cancer

    Standard staging tool alongside endoscopy and MRI.

  • Melanoma stage III/IV

    Whole-body assessment for distant disease.

  • Colorectal cancer restaging

    Rising CEA or equivocal CT - PET clarifies recurrence.

  • Unknown primary

    Identifies the primary site in some cancer-of-unknown-origin presentations.

  • Cardiac sarcoid or infection

    Specialist non-oncology indications - different preparation.

  • 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.

  • FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose)

    Standard for most solid cancers and lymphoma. Uses glucose uptake.

  • PSMA (gallium-68 or F-18)

    Prostate cancer staging and recurrence - see the dedicated PSMA page.

  • DOTATATE (gallium-68)

    Neuroendocrine tumours - somatostatin receptor imaging.

  • Choline (F-18)

    Alternative to PSMA for prostate biochemical recurrence.

  • FDG PET with diagnostic CT

    Adds intravenous contrast CT for anatomic detail.

  • Attenuation-only CT

    Lower-dose CT for co-registration only; used when a diagnostic CT is already recent.

  • Cardiac FDG protocol

    Suppresses cardiac glucose uptake with fat-loading - for sarcoid and infection.

  • Whole-body vs limited

    Standard is skull base to mid-thigh; limbs and vertex added on request.

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.

  • Modest radiation dose

    PET-CT delivers 5–10 mSv (PET) plus CT - around 10–20 mSv total. Justified in cancer staging.

  • Pregnancy

    Contraindicated in pregnancy. A pregnancy test is done in women of childbearing age.

  • Breastfeeding

    Brief interruption of breastfeeding after some tracers - the centre gives written guidance.

  • Contact precautions

    Avoid close contact with pregnant women and young children for 12–24 hours after the scan.

  • Blood sugar matters

    High glucose reduces FDG uptake by tumour. Diabetic patients need careful preparation.

  • False positives

    Infection, inflammation and brown fat all take up FDG. A good report calls out benign uptake.

  • False negatives

    Small lesions under 8 mm and mucinous or low-grade tumours may be under-called.

  • Claustrophobia

    PET-CT scanners are open-bore; most patients manage without sedation.

  • 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 UK consultant reviewing operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - it is fine to ask for plain English.

It is reasonable to ask your clinician to talk you through the operation note and any histology before your review.

  1. 01 Header

    Tracer, dose and protocol

    Radiotracer used, injected dose, uptake time and region scanned.

  2. 02 Findings

    Site-by-site uptake

    Every abnormal focus with SUVmax, size and anatomic location.

  3. 03 Comparison

    Change from prior imaging

    Response to treatment, new sites, progression or stability.

  4. 04 Impression

    Deauville / response category

    Read this first - a summary aligned to your tumour’s response criteria.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

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

Common questions about pet-ct scan.

Quick answers on approach, recovery, risks and cost.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • How much radiation is involved?

    Around 10–20 mSv total (PET + CT), roughly 3–7 years of background radiation. Justified for staging cancer.

  • 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.

  • How long does the appointment take?

    Two to three hours: cannulation, tracer injection, 60-minute uptake wait, 20–30 minute scan, brief recovery.

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