Scan records and reports
Keeping Your Scan Records — for the Long Term
Every scan you have ever had is a baseline for every scan that comes after it. Without your old images, a radiologist reading your next scan is working without context — and a stable finding can look like a new problem.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Keep everything, not just recent scans — A scan from five years ago can be the one a radiologist most needs today.
- Reports and image files both matter — The written report says what was found. The image files show exactly what was seen.
- The storage responsibility is yours — Hospitals do not keep your imaging indefinitely. After a period, your copy may be the only one.
- Two copies in two places — One at home, one offsite or in cloud storage. A single copy can be lost.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
Keep every scan report and image disc you have ever been given, from every scan, permanently. When a radiologist reads a new scan, they compare it against the oldest available images. Without that baseline, a stable finding looks new and can trigger unnecessary investigations. The storage responsibility rests with you, not the hospital.
CION's PET-CT scans in Hyderabad start at Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
How do you set up a scan record system that actually works?
Gather everything you currently have
Collect every scan report, CD, DVD, and printed image from every centre you have ever visited. Include scans done before your diagnosis — your pre-treatment baseline matters as much as scans taken during treatment.
Label each item before you store it
Write on each report and disc: the date, the scan type (CT, MRI, PET-CT, X-ray, ultrasound), and the body region examined. A disc from 2021 with no label is impossible to identify in a hurry.
Make at least one digital copy
Photograph paper reports clearly with your phone. Copy image files from CDs and DVDs to a USB drive or phone storage. A blurred photo of a report is not usable in a clinical setting.
Store copies in two separate places
Keep one set at home in a labelled folder or box, and one copy somewhere separate — a USB drive at a relative's house, or a shared cloud folder that a trusted family member can also access.
Bring the right scans to every new consultation
Before any appointment at a new centre, pull out scans of the same body region — not just the most recent ones. A radiologist reading today's chest scan needs your earliest available chest scan as well.
What scan records should you keep, and which can you discard?
Keep every report and every image disc from every scan, at any centre, for any reason — including scans done before your diagnosis was made.
Do not discard a scan on the assumption it is too old to matter. A PET-CT from five years ago can be directly relevant when a radiologist is deciding whether today's finding is new or has been stable for years.
If you have a disc but no written report, keep the disc and request the report. If you have a report but no disc, keep the report. If a centre offers to print a copy of your report at the time of the appointment, say yes.
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.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Get a straight answer from a specialist
45 minutes, your reports reviewed, your questions answered in plain language.
How long should you keep cancer scan records?
Keep them permanently. There is no point at which older scans safely become irrelevant.
Cancer monitoring can continue for decades after treatment ends, and the question of whether a finding is new or long-standing can arise at any time. The scan from the year of your diagnosis may be the one a future radiologist most needs.
Hospitals and imaging centres do not store your scans indefinitely. Practical responsibility for long-term keeping rests with you and your family, not the centre that produced the scan.
Did you know?
Radiology reporting standards describe comparison with prior imaging as a fundamental part of reading any scan. A finding that has been stable for several years almost never needs further investigation.
The same finding, seen for the first time without prior images to compare against, is routinely treated as a new abnormality — which can mean repeat scans, biopsies, and weeks of uncertainty that your records would have prevented.
Source: American College of Radiology — Communication of Diagnostic Imaging Findings
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
- 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
Choosing a PET-CT Centre & Quality
- AERB Approval and Radiation Safety Licensing
- Comparing Two Quotes: What Is Actually Different?
- Digital PET and Time-of-Flight: What They Actually Change
- Do You Need to Go to the Same Centre for Follow-Up Scans?
- Does an Oncologist-Reviewed Report Actually Help?
- Does the PET-CT Scanner Model Matter?
- Getting a PET-CT at a Government Hospital in Telangana
- How to Choose a PET-CT Centre in Hyderabad
- Questions to Ask a PET-CT Centre Before Booking
- Red Flags When Choosing a Scan Centre
- Same-Day and Walk-In PET-CT Appointments
- Standalone Diagnostic Lab vs a Cancer Centre
- The Four PET-CT Centres in Hyderabad: Which Is Nearest?
- What Makes a PET-CT Report Good?
- What to Do If You Are Unhappy With Your Scan or Report
- Who Reads Your Scan Matters More Than the Machine
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
Talk to an oncologist about your scan
Your PET-CT report read by a senior oncologist, explained in plain language, with a free 45-minute consultation.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What if a hospital will not give me a copy of my scans?
You are entitled to your own medical records. Ask specifically for a printed copy of the radiologist's written report, which most centres will provide on request. For image files, many centres will transfer them to a disc or USB drive you bring; some charge a small fee. If a centre declines, ask your treating oncologist to request the records on your behalf. Going forward, ask for your report at the time of every scan appointment rather than returning for it later.
My scans are on CDs and I no longer have a CD drive — what should I do?
An external USB CD drive is inexpensive and reads any standard disc. Once you have one, copy the files from each disc onto a USB drive or your phone, then keep the original discs as backup. Do this soon — older CDs can become unreadable over time as the disc surface degrades. If a family member has a computer with a built-in CD drive, that also works for copying files without purchasing anything new.
Can I store scan images on my phone or in cloud storage like Google Drive?
Yes. Scan image files are usually in DICOM format, which can be stored on any device or cloud folder without specialist software. Keep a copy both locally — on a USB drive or phone — and in cloud storage, so that losing one device does not destroy your record. Do not rely on cloud storage alone; keep at least one physical copy as well. Cloud access can depend on internet connectivity at the moment you need it most.
What if my scan was done at a government hospital and I never received a written report?
Ask at the radiology department counter with your patient registration number and the date of the scan. Government hospitals are required to provide a written report; the issue is usually administrative delay rather than refusal. If the printed report is no longer retrievable, ask your treating doctor for a clinical summary from their notes, which will reference the scan findings. For every future scan, request the report on the same day where possible.
Is keeping the written report enough, or do I also need the image files?
Both matter for different reasons. The written report tells a new doctor what was found and is the most useful document to bring to any consultation. The image files allow a radiologist to see exactly what was visible — not just a description — which can resolve questions a summary cannot, such as whether a shadow was an artefact or a real finding. Keep both where you can. If you have only one, prioritise the written report and request the images from the centre when possible.