PET-CT scan reports
Errors in Your PET-CT Report: — How a Correction Works
Yes, errors do occur in scan reports — and a formal process exists to correct them. Knowing the steps means you can act on the same day rather than wait and worry.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Errors do happen — Typographical mistakes and laterality errors — left written instead of right — are the most common.
- Formal amendment, not a verbal update — A correction is issued as a new, clearly marked amended report — not a note added to the original.
- Start with the imaging centre — The radiologist who signed the report is the person with authority to correct it.
- Keep both versions — Your file should hold both the original and the amended report. The original is not erased.
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Yes, errors do occur in PET-CT reports. The most common are typographical mistakes and laterality errors, where left and right are swapped. A formal amendment process exists for both. You raise the concern with the imaging centre, a radiologist reviews the original images, and a corrected report is issued in place of the original.
PET-CT at CION starts from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
How is an error in a PET-CT report corrected?
Note the specific concern
Write down the exact wording in the report and what you believe it should say. You will need this when you contact the imaging centre.
Contact the imaging centre that issued the report
Ask to speak with the radiologist who signed the report, or with the department's quality coordinator. Explain the specific concern — what the report says, and what you believe is wrong.
The radiologist reviews the original scan images
The radiologist goes back to the raw images — not just the written report — to check whether a correction is needed. Your oncologist may be consulted at this stage.
An amended report is issued
If a correction is confirmed, a new version of the report is produced. It is clearly marked as an amended report, with a date and the reason for the change.
The amended report reaches your treating team
The imaging centre sends the corrected version to your oncologist. Ask for a copy for your own records at the same time.
Update your personal file
Keep both the original and the amended report. The original is part of your medical record and is not destroyed or overwritten.
Do mistakes actually happen in scan reports?
Yes, they do — and acknowledging this honestly is more useful than pretending otherwise.
Typographical errors are the most common: a name misspelled, a date wrong, or a measurement digit transposed. Laterality errors, where the radiologist writes 'left' when the image shows 'right', are less frequent but more consequential and are treated with particular care when they arise.
A factual error in the text of a report does not necessarily mean the scan itself was performed or read incorrectly. The images and the written summary are two separate things, and a correction to the text does not require the scan to be repeated.
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 should you do if you think your report has an error?
Tell your oncologist the same day you notice it. They can act immediately and will contact the imaging centre with the authority your concern needs.
If you prefer to contact the imaging centre directly, keep the question factual: 'The report says X — I believe it should say Y.' Do not ask the imaging centre to change an interpretation you disagree with. That is a different process and cannot be resolved through a correction.
A correction to your report is part of your medical record. You are entitled to receive the amended version in writing, and to have it sent to every clinician who received the original.
When do you need a correction, and when do you need a second opinion?
| Type of concern | Common examples | How it is handled |
|---|---|---|
| Typographical error | Wrong patient name, date, or referring doctor | Radiologist corrects and issues an amended report |
| Laterality error | Left written instead of right, or vice versa | Senior radiologist reviews original images before an amended report is issued |
| Factual error in a finding | Wrong organ named; a measurement recorded incorrectly | Senior radiologist review required; amended report issued once confirmed |
| Interpretive disagreement | You or your oncologist read the significance of the findings differently | Formal second opinion — a different radiologist reads the same images independently; this is not a correction |
Did you know?
Professional radiology bodies recommend that any factual correction to a report is issued as a formally amended document — not a verbal update or a handwritten note on the original.
This matters because your report may be read by many clinicians over many years. The amended version needs to be the one they find.
Source: Royal College of Radiologists — guidance on radiology report communication and amendment practice
CION does PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city — including an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 88 more Understanding PET-CT, Cost, Booking & Records topics
Reports, Records & Second Opinions
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- 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
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- Booking a PET-CT for Someone Living Abroad
- Can You Get a PET-CT Scan Closer to Home?
- Getting an Urgent PET-CT Scan
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- How to Book a PET-CT Scan in Hyderabad
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- Do You Need to Go to the Same Centre for Follow-Up Scans?
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- How to Choose a PET-CT Centre in Hyderabad
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- 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?
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- 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
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- PET-CT Scan Cost in Hyderabad: The Full Price List
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- 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?
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- PET-CT to Check Whether Treatment Is Working
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- 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?
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a corrected report?
There is no single timeframe because it depends on how quickly the radiologist can review the original images and how the imaging centre manages its amendment process. A typographical correction that does not require re-reading the scan can be issued more quickly than a laterality concern that requires a senior radiologist to go back to the images. Ask the imaging centre for an expected timeline when you raise the concern, and let your oncologist know so they can follow up if it is delayed.
Will the original report be destroyed after the correction?
No. The original report stays in your medical record as the document that was first issued. The amended report is added alongside it, clearly dated and marked as a correction. This is the correct practice — not to erase what was written, but to add a verified correction with a transparent record of the change. When you collect your documents, ask for both versions.
What if the radiologist says there is no error?
If the radiologist reviews the images and believes the report is accurate, they will explain why. At that point you have two options. You can ask your oncologist to review the concern with the imaging centre directly. Or you can request a formal second opinion — a separate radiologist reads the same images and produces an independent report. A second opinion addresses interpretive disagreements; it is a different process from a correction and is completely within your rights to request.
Does a corrected report change my treatment plan?
That depends on what was corrected and on your oncologist's judgement — it is not something the imaging centre decides. If the correction changes a finding in a clinically significant way, your oncologist will review whether the treatment plan needs to change alongside it. If the correction was typographical and the clinical findings are unchanged, the plan is unlikely to be affected. Ask your oncologist directly once you have the amended report in hand.
What if I disagree with the interpretation, not a specific fact?
A disagreement about interpretation — what the findings mean, how significant they are, or whether something is worth investigating further — is not resolved through a correction. It is resolved through a second opinion. A formal second opinion means a different, independent radiologist reads the same scan images and writes their own report. Your oncologist can arrange this, or you can request it directly from a centre that offers independent reporting. CION coordinates this process as part of its second-opinion pathway.