Reports & Second Opinions
How to Get a Digital Copy of — Your PET-CT Images
Your PET-CT images belong to you, and you are entitled to a copy. Most people never ask for them — and then find they need them urgently when a second opinion is needed or a relative abroad wants to review the case.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- You do not need your doctor's permission — The images are your medical records. You can request them yourself or send a family member with a letter.
- You need the disc, not just the report — The written report is the radiologist's summary. A reviewing oncologist will ask for the images themselves.
- DICOM is the format to ask for — Any hospital or oncology centre in India or abroad can open DICOM files.
- Email is rarely an option — The files are large. Sharing abroad usually means carrying or couriering the disc, or using a secure upload portal.
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Your PET-CT images are stored as DICOM files. To get a copy, ask the imaging centre where the scan was done to write them onto a CD or DVD. This is your right as a patient. Most centres provide the disc on the day of the scan, or within a few days for a completed scan.
A whole-body PET-CT at CION costs from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
How do you request a digital copy of your PET-CT images?
Find the imaging centre where your scan was done
PET-CT scans at CION are performed at partner imaging centres. Check your scan report or appointment letter for the centre's name and address — it is not the same location as your CION clinical appointment.
Go to the records or reception desk in person
You can request your images without your oncologist's involvement. Bring a copy of your ID and the date of your scan. If a family member is collecting on your behalf, include a short signed letter of authorisation.
Ask specifically for the DICOM images on CD, DVD or USB
Tell staff you want the DICOM files — not a printed film or a scanned PDF of the report. DICOM is the international standard format, and it is what any oncologist reviewing your case will need.
If you want a USB copy, bring a blank drive
Many centres will copy files to a USB drive you provide, which is easier to carry and store than a CD. Call ahead to confirm this before you travel.
Check the disc or drive before you leave
Ask a staff member to confirm the files open on their system. A blank or unreadable disc discovered at home means a second trip.
Make a backup and store the original safely
CDs and DVDs are damaged by heat, scratches or sunlight. Copy the files to a second USB drive and keep the original in a cool, dry place. These images are a permanent record you may need years from now.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
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What format are PET-CT images in, and can they be sent by email?
The images are saved in a format called DICOM — Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. This is the international standard, and any hospital or oncology centre in India or abroad can open them.
Most imaging centres in India give you the files on a CD or DVD. Sending DICOM files by email is not standard practice — the files are large, often several hundred megabytes for a full PET-CT, and most email services block attachments of that size.
If a relative abroad or an overseas specialist needs to review your images, the practical options are to carry the CD, to courier it, or to use a secure upload portal if the second-opinion service offers one. Ask the service you are contacting what method they prefer before you arrange anything.
Did you know?
A printed PET-CT film shows a selection of images chosen by the radiologist. The DICOM files on a CD contain every slice acquired during the scan — the full dataset an oncologist reviewing your case at another centre needs to form an independent view.
The images are held by the imaging centre, not your treating oncologist, which is why you need to go there directly to collect them.
Source: DICOM Standards Committee (NEMA)
Book a PET-CT at CION from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation, across 4 partner centres. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 72 more Understanding PET-CT, Cost, Booking & Records topics
Reports, Records & Second Opinions
- Comparing a New Scan With Your Previous One
- Do You Need a Repeat Scan or Just a Re-Read?
- Errors and Corrections in Scan Reports
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your PET-CT Report
- How to Get a Digital Copy of Your PET-CT Images
- Keeping Your Scan Records for the Long Term
- Sharing Your Scan With a Doctor Abroad
- Taking Your PET-CT Report to Another Hospital
- Understanding the Nuclear Medicine Specialist's Role
- What You Receive: Report, Images, CD and DICOM
- What to Do If the Report Says Something You Do Not Understand
- When Is a Second Opinion on a Scan Worth It?
- When Will You Get Your PET-CT Report?
- Why Two Reports on the Same Scan Can Differ
Booking, Access & District Logistics
- Booking Without a Doctor's Referral
- Booking a PET-CT for Someone Living Abroad
- Can You Get a PET-CT Scan Closer to Home?
- Getting an Urgent PET-CT Scan
- How Early Should You Arrive for Your Scan?
- How to Book a PET-CT Scan in Hyderabad
- PET-CT for Patients From Nalgonda and Suryapet
- PET-CT for Patients From North Andhra
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Karimnagar
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Khammam
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Nizamabad
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Warangal
- Rescheduling or Cancelling a PET-CT Scan
- What Happens If You Miss Your PET-CT Slot?
- Where to Stay Near a PET-CT Centre in Hyderabad
- Why PET-CT Slots Are Fixed and Cannot Be Moved
PET-CT Cost, Insurance & Schemes
- Ayushman Bharat, CGHS and EHS Coverage for PET-CT
- Cashless vs Reimbursement for a PET-CT Scan
- Comparing PET-CT Quotes: A Checklist Before You Pay
- Does a Cheaper PET-CT Mean a Worse Scan?
- EMI and Payment Options for a PET-CT Scan
- Free and Subsidised PET-CT: Government Options and Waiting Times
- Hidden Charges in PET-CT Scans: What to Check Before You Book
- Is PET-CT Covered Under Aarogyasri?
- Is PET-CT Worth the Cost Compared With a CT Scan?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Covered by Health Insurance in India?
- PET-CT Cost for Non-Cancer Conditions
- PET-CT Cost vs CT, MRI and Bone Scan in Hyderabad
- PET-CT Scan Cost in Hyderabad: The Full Price List
- PSMA, DOTATATE and FAPI PET-CT Costs in Hyderabad
- Paying for a PET-CT Scan From Abroad
- Planning the Cost of Your Cancer Diagnostics
- Repeat PET-CT Scans: What Each Follow-Up Costs
- Value for Money vs Deep Detect: Which PET-CT Should You Choose?
- What Does the Free Consultation With Your Scan Include?
- What Is Included in a PET-CT Scan Price — and What Is Not
- Why Do PET-CT Prices Vary So Much Between Centres?
- Why PET-CT Insurance Claims Get Rejected
Understanding PET-CT & When It Is Needed
- Can a PET-CT Scan Be Normal and Cancer Still Be Present?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Detect Cancer Anywhere in the Body?
- Do You Need a Biopsy If the PET-CT Is Positive?
- Do You Need a Doctor's Referral for a PET-CT Scan?
- Does a PET-CT Scan Mean I Have Cancer?
- How Accurate Is a PET-CT Scan?
- How Long Does It Take to Get a PET-CT Appointment?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Useful for Cancer Screening in a Healthy Person?
- PET-CT Scan Terminology: A Plain-English Glossary
- PET-CT When the Primary Cancer Cannot Be Found
- PET-CT for Staging: Working Out How Far Cancer Has Spread
- PET-CT to Check Whether Treatment Is Working
- PET-CT to Look for Cancer Coming Back
- Questions to Ask Before Booking a PET-CT Scan
- What Can a PET-CT Scan Detect — and What It Cannot
- What Is a PET-CT Scan and How Does It Work?
- What Is a Radiotracer and Which One Will I Be Given?
- Who Should Not Have a PET-CT Scan?
- Whole-Body PET-CT vs a Limited or Regional Scan
- Why Has My Doctor Ordered a PET-CT Scan?
Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get the CD after my PET-CT?
If you ask on the day of the scan, most imaging centres will give you the CD before you leave or within a few hours. For older scans that have already been reported, it may take one to three working days while the centre retrieves the archived files. Call ahead to check. Do not wait until the day before a second-opinion appointment to request it — allow at least a week to be safe.
Do I need my doctor's permission to collect my PET-CT images?
No. The images are your medical records and you are entitled to a copy without your oncologist's authorisation. If a family member is collecting on your behalf, bring a short written letter with your signature and a copy of your ID. A few centres may ask you to fill in a simple request form on arrival, but none can require a doctor's approval before releasing your own records to you.
Can I share my PET-CT images with a doctor abroad?
Yes, but email is rarely practical. DICOM files are large and most email services cannot handle attachments of that size. If the overseas doctor or second-opinion service has a secure upload portal, they will send you a link and instructions. Otherwise, carrying or couriering the original CD or USB drive is the most reliable method. Ask the service what they prefer before you make arrangements.
My CD is not opening. What should I do?
CDs from imaging centres usually include a viewer programme that starts automatically when the disc is inserted. If nothing opens, try right-clicking the disc drive and selecting Explore, then look for a file called setup.exe or a folder labelled DICOM or IMAGES. If the disc appears blank or gives an error, return to the imaging centre — they can check whether the files were written correctly and reissue the disc at no extra charge.
Do I need the images if I already have the written report?
Yes, for any second opinion. The written report contains the radiologist's conclusions, but a reviewing oncologist will want to examine the images directly — to assess areas the report summarises briefly, to compare with future scans, or to form an independent view. The report alone is not enough for a meaningful remote review. Always ask for both the report and the DICOM images.