Myths about imaging reports
Myth: A Scan From a Cheaper Centre — Will Not Be Accepted
Many families choose a lower-cost imaging centre and then worry that the hospital will reject the report. That worry is based on a misunderstanding — not on how oncology works.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Reports transfer — Any oncologist can review a scan from any accredited imaging centre.
- Price is not quality — Lower cost often reflects location or a pricing arrangement, not machine age or capability.
- The images are yours — Your DICOM scan data and your printed report belong to you, not to the centre that did the scan.
- Repeats are rare — Oncologists request a new scan when the clinical question has changed, not because of where the first one was done.
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Yes — a PET-CT report from any accredited imaging centre is accepted at any oncology hospital in India. Oncologists review the images and the radiologist's report together. What matters is accreditation and image quality, not the price you paid. You should not need to repeat a scan simply because you chose a centre that charged less.
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.
What people believe — and what is actually true
Cheaper scan centres use inferior machines.
Machine quality is regulated. Centres that perform PET-CT must hold Atomic Energy Regulatory Board certification regardless of their pricing. A lower price often reflects location, operating costs, or a bulk-billing arrangement — not the age or capability of the equipment.
Another hospital will make me repeat the scan because they don't accept outside reports.
Hospitals do not routinely repeat scans because of where the original was done. An oncologist may order a new scan if the existing one is too old for the current clinical question, the images are technically inadequate, or the disease has clearly changed — not simply because a different centre performed it.
My scan report is only valid at the hospital that referred me.
Your scan and your report belong to you. Any oncologist can review the DICOM images and the written report, regardless of which hospital ordered the scan or which centre performed it.
A government-centre report will not be taken seriously at a private hospital.
Oncologists assess the content of the report and the quality of the images, not the letterhead. A well-conducted scan from a government facility or a standalone diagnostic centre carries the same clinical weight as one from any other accredited centre.
What to ask for and what to keep
- Ask for your DICOM images on a CD, DVD, or USB drive at the time of your scan — request this before you leave, as obtaining one later can take several days.
- Keep the original printed radiology report, not a photocopy.
- Note the name and AERB registration number of the imaging centre — your oncologist may ask for it.
- Keep your referring doctor's prescription or request form alongside the report.
- Bring all previous scan reports, even from different centres — your oncologist uses them for comparison, and continuity of centre matters far less than continuity of records.
- Store your disc and report together in a labelled envelope with the date and your name.
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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Terms you will see on your report
- DICOM
- The international digital standard that all PET-CT, CT, and MRI machines use to save scan data. A DICOM file from any centre can be opened by any hospital's imaging software anywhere.
- AERB certification
- The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board licences every centre in India that uses radioactive tracers for PET-CT. Certification means the centre meets national safety and technical standards — it is a legal requirement, not optional.
- Radiology report
- The written document in which the radiologist describes and interprets what the scan shows. It travels with you independently of the imaging centre and can be reviewed by any oncologist.
- SUVmax
- A number in your PET-CT report that reflects metabolic activity in a given area. Your oncologist uses it to track change over time — it is not a standalone diagnosis and requires clinical context to interpret.
What does an oncologist actually need from an outside scan?
Your oncologist needs two things: the original DICOM images on a disc, and the printed radiology report. Both travel with you.
The images allow your oncologist, or a radiologist they consult, to look at the scan directly rather than relying solely on another doctor's description. This works the same way whether your scan was done across town or in another city entirely.
The one situation where a repeat scan is genuinely needed is when the existing scan is too old to reflect where the disease is now, when image quality is technically poor, or when you are starting a new treatment and a fresh baseline is required. None of those reasons is about which centre you chose.
Did you know?
The DICOM format was designed specifically so that scan data can be read by any hospital's software anywhere in the world — a scan done in Vijayawada can be reviewed in Hyderabad, Delhi, or London without any conversion or special software.
This interoperability is the whole point of the standard.
Source: DICOM Standards Committee, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
PET-CT at CION starts from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — across 4 partner centres in Banjara Hills, Punjagutta, Himayatnagar and Narayanaguda. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 62 more Family Support, Myths, Follow-Up and Emergencies topics
Myths & Misinformation
- Ayurvedic and Alternative Alternatives to a PET Scan
- Myth: A Normal PET Scan Means You Are Cured
- Myth: A PET Scan Can Cause Cancer
- Myth: A PET Scan Detects Every Cancer
- Myth: A PET Scan Spreads or Worsens Cancer
- Myth: A Positive PET Scan Means You Definitely Have Cancer
- Myth: A Scan From a Cheaper Centre Will Not Be Accepted
- Myth: An Expensive Scan Is Always a Better Scan
- Myth: Eating Sugar Before a Scan Will Show Up Cancer
- Myth: PET Scans Are Only for Terminal Cancer
- Myth: The Tracer Injection Is a Kind of Chemotherapy
- Myth: You Should Avoid Water After a PET Scan
- Myth: You Should Get a PET Scan Every Year to Be Safe
- Myth: You Stay Radioactive for Days After a PET Scan
Caretaker & Family Guide
- A Printable PET-CT Day Checklist for Families
- After the Scan: What the Family Should Know
- Collecting and Storing the Report and Images
- Coordinating a Scan for a Parent in Another City
- Explaining a Parent's Scan to Children
- Explaining the Scan to an Anxious Patient
- Getting an Elderly Parent to and From the Scan
- Helping Someone Fast Before a PET-CT
- Managing Cost and Payment as a Family
- Preparing Questions for the Post-Scan Consultation
- The Family's Complete Guide to a PET-CT Scan Day
- What the Attendant Can and Cannot Do During the Scan
Emergencies & Red Flags
- Accidental Radiation Exposure: Pregnancy Discovered After a Scan
- Breathing Difficulty During or After a Scan
- Delayed Contrast Reaction Hours After the Scan
- Emergencies Around a PET-CT Scan: What Needs Immediate Care
- Fainting or Collapse at the Scan Centre
- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia) During Fasting
- Panic Attack During the Scan
- Severe Contrast Reaction: Recognising It
- What to Do If the Cannula Site Swells or Hurts After
- When to Call the Centre After Your Scan
Follow-Up & Surveillance Scanning
- Can You Refuse a Follow-Up PET Scan?
- Follow-Up Scanning During Long-Term Treatment
- How Often Will You Need a PET-CT After Treatment?
- Is Routine Surveillance PET Actually Recommended?
- Keeping a Personal Scan Log
- Reducing Radiation Across Years of Surveillance
- Scan-Based vs Symptom-Based Follow-Up
- Surveillance Scanning by Cancer Type: A Reference Table
- The Annual Cost of Cancer Surveillance Scanning
- Transferring Surveillance to a Centre Closer to Home
- What Happens If a Surveillance Scan Shows Something?
- When Can You Stop Having Scans?
Scanxiety & Emotional Impact
- Fear of What the Scan Will Find
- Getting Bad News From a Scan Report
- Getting Good News: Why Relief Is Complicated
- Living Between Scans: The Six-Month Rhythm
- Making the Most of Your Post-Scan Consultation
- Recurring Scanxiety in Long-Term Surveillance
- Scanxiety: The Fear Before and After a PET-CT
- Should You Look Up Your Results Online Before the Consult?
- Supporting Someone Through Scan Day
- Telling Family About Scan Results
- The Night Before a PET-CT Scan
- Waiting for PET-CT Results: How to Get Through It
- When a Patient Refuses to Have the Scan
- When to Seek Counselling Around Scans
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Will CION accept my PET-CT report from a different imaging centre?
Yes. CION coordinates PET-CT through partner imaging centres and reviews reports from accredited centres regardless of where the scan was done. Bring the DICOM disc and the printed report to your appointment. If the scan is recent and the images are of adequate quality, your oncologist can use it directly without requesting a repeat.
What if I never received a CD, or the disc is damaged?
Contact the imaging centre directly and ask for a duplicate. Most centres archive scans for several years and can produce a new disc, sometimes for a small fee. If the centre has closed or cannot retrieve the images, your oncologist will advise whether a repeat scan is needed based on how old the original was and what clinical decisions depend on it.
Does the scan need to be recent to be useful?
It depends on why you need it. For staging a new diagnosis, a scan that is a few weeks old may still be sufficient. For treatment planning or checking response, your oncologist needs images that reflect the current state of the disease. Ask your doctor directly whether your existing scan is recent enough for the question at hand — that is a clinical judgement specific to your situation, not a fixed time rule.
Does my previous oncologist need to send the report, or can I carry it myself?
You can carry it yourself — the report and the DICOM disc are yours. You do not need a formal transfer between hospitals. A summary letter from your previous oncologist describing treatment you have had is helpful, but for the scan itself, the disc and the printed report are all you need. No permission is required from the centre or from your previous doctor.
What if my scan used a different tracer or protocol than my new hospital uses?
Mention this when you hand over the disc. Most PET-CT scans in oncology use FDG as the tracer, and the standard protocol is widely understood. If a different tracer was used, the radiologist's report should say so. Your oncologist will review what was done and, if the protocol was appropriate for your cancer type, the scan will be usable. In rare cases where the protocol makes direct comparison difficult, your oncologist will explain why and what they need instead.