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PSMA PET scan - the right scan for prostate cancer.

A whole-body PET-CT using a prostate-specific membrane antigen tracer - the current gold standard for prostate cancer staging and for biochemical recurrence after treatment. UK availability is limited, so check which centres offer it.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a PSMA PET scan costs privately in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK imaging units.

In short

£1,800–£2,800, report in 5–7 working days.

Procedure Indicative range
Ga-68 PSMA PET-CT £2,200–£2,800
F-18 PSMA PET-CT £1,800–£2,400
PSMA PET with diagnostic CT £2,400–£3,000
Choline PET-CT (alternative) £2,200–£2,800
Prostate mpMRI (companion) £600–£1,200
Urology / oncology consultation £250–£450

Prices vary by tracer (Ga-68 vs F-18) and by centre. Only a handful of UK centres offer PSMA PET routinely.

The problem

PSMA PET is far better than bone scan and CT for prostate cancer - and NHS access is patchy.

PSMA PET-CT outperforms conventional CT and bone scan for prostate cancer staging (proPSMA trial) and for detecting disease at low PSA levels after treatment. NHS access is expanding but remains inconsistent by region.

  • Staging beats bone scan + CT

    PSMA PET is more accurate, delivers less radiation and often changes treatment plans.

  • Detects disease at low PSA

    Positive scans are common even at PSA 0.2–0.5 ng/mL after prostatectomy - earlier than any other modality.

  • UK access is limited

    Only a handful of NHS and private centres offer PSMA PET routinely.

When it helps

When PSMA PET is the right step.

The prostate cancer situations where PSMA PET changes the plan.

  • Staging intermediate/high-risk disease

    Before radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy - replaces bone scan and CT in many pathways.

  • Biochemical recurrence (BCR)

    Rising PSA after prostatectomy or radiotherapy - PSMA finds disease at low PSA.

  • Suspected oligometastatic disease

    Precise localisation for stereotactic radiotherapy of a few metastatic sites.

  • Response to systemic treatment

    Serial PSMA scans track response to hormonal or lutetium therapy.

  • Screening for PSMA-directed therapy

    Confirms PSMA-avid disease before lutetium PSMA (Pluvicto) treatment.

  • Equivocal conventional imaging

    When CT or bone scan is inconclusive.

  • BRCA / high-risk genetic prostate

    Meticulous baseline in genetic prostate risk carriers.

  • Red flag: rapidly rising PSA + symptoms

    Bone pain, weight loss or new neurology needs urgent oncology, not a routine PET booking.

Procedure options

Tracers, timing and companions.

The scan is only one piece of the workup.

  • Gallium-68 PSMA

    The most widely used PSMA tracer worldwide. High resolution, short half-life.

  • F-18 PSMA

    Longer half-life allows more scans per batch - often cheaper. Comparable accuracy.

  • Diagnostic vs attenuation CT

    Adds contrast CT for anatomic detail; not always needed if MRI is recent.

  • Choline PET-CT

    Older alternative - still used where PSMA is unavailable.

  • FDG PET-CT

    Sometimes added in de-differentiated or neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

  • PSMA + mpMRI

    PSMA answers systemic disease; MRI defines local anatomy for planning.

  • Whole body vs skull-to-mid-thigh

    Standard is skull-to-mid-thigh; extended coverage on request.

  • Repeat scanning

    Serial scans track response - plan intervals with your oncologist.

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

    PSMA PET-CT delivers around 8–12 mSv total. Justified in prostate cancer decisions.

  • Well tolerated

    Tracers cause no meaningful side effects; injections are painless beyond the cannula.

  • Contact precautions

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

  • Salivary gland uptake

    Normal on PSMA - not disease.

  • False positives

    Ganglia, ribs and some benign lesions can take up PSMA - the reader knows the traps.

  • False negatives

    Small volume disease and PSMA-negative subtypes may be under-called.

  • Not for screening

    PSMA PET is not a screening tool - used only in confirmed or highly suspected prostate cancer.

  • UK availability

    Book early - PSMA slots are limited in the UK private sector.

  • When to escalate

    New severe bone pain, neurological symptoms or urinary retention - same-day oncology call.

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

    Ga-68 or F-18 PSMA, injected dose, uptake time.

  2. 02 Findings

    PSMA-avid disease sites

    Prostate bed, pelvic and distant nodes, bone and viscera - with SUVmax and size.

  3. 03 Comparison

    Change from prior imaging

    New, stable or resolved compared to previous PET, MRI or bone scan.

  4. 04 Impression

    Stage and management implication

    Read this first - miTNM stage where applicable and impact on treatment.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

PSMA PET is increasingly covered by UK PMI for prostate cancer indications with an oncologist referral. Preauth is often required for premium tracers.

Frequently asked

Common questions about psma pet scan.

Quick answers on approach, recovery, risks and cost.

  • When is PSMA PET recommended?

    Staging in intermediate-to-high-risk prostate cancer, biochemical recurrence after prostatectomy or radiotherapy, and eligibility for PSMA-directed therapies such as lutetium PSMA (Pluvicto).

  • How much does a PSMA PET cost in the UK?

    £1,800–£2,400 for F-18 PSMA and £2,200–£2,800 for Ga-68 PSMA privately. Adding a diagnostic contrast CT pushes towards £3,000.

  • Is PSMA PET available on the NHS?

    Yes, in a growing number of centres, but access is regionally variable. Private booking bypasses geographic and waiting-list constraints.

  • Is PSMA PET better than bone scan and CT?

    Yes - the proPSMA trial showed PSMA PET-CT is more accurate for staging than conventional CT and bone scan combined, and with less radiation.

  • How much radiation is involved?

    Around 8–12 mSv total - less than a CT chest-abdomen-pelvis plus bone scan combined.

  • Does PSMA PET replace a prostate MRI?

    No. mpMRI defines local anatomy in the prostate and pelvis; PSMA PET answers whether disease has spread. They complement each other.

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