Questions to Ask a PET-CT Centre — Before You Book

Not automatically, but scanner generation does affect image resolution and how clearly small lesions are shown. A newer dedicated PET-CT machine generally produces sharper images than an older or standalone system. That said, a newer scanner interpreted by an under-experienced reporting doctor can still produce an unhelpful report. Both the equipment and the person reading the images matter, and asking about each separately gives you a more complete picture than price alone.

Yes, and it is a reasonable thing to do. Ask the centre directly: who will read and sign my report, and what is their specialty? You are not being awkward — you are asking about the person making the clinical interpretation on which your treatment may depend. A centre confident in its standards will answer this without difficulty. If you receive a vague or defensive response, that is itself useful information about how that centre approaches quality.

FDG — fluorodeoxyglucose — is the radiopharmaceutical injected before most oncology PET-CT scans. It is a mildly radioactive tracer that makes cancer cells visible on the image. Whether it is included in the quoted price depends entirely on the centre. Some bundle it into a single figure; others quote it separately. Ask specifically whether the isotope is included in the price you have been given, because it forms a significant part of the total cost.

The total appointment is several hours, not just the duration of the scan itself. After the injection you will rest quietly for a period while the tracer distributes through your body, and then the scan takes further time depending on the area being imaged. Ask the centre for the total expected duration when you book, so you can plan the day — particularly if you are travelling a long distance, need to fast beforehand, or require someone to accompany you home.

CION does not own PET-CT scanners. Scans are coordinated through partner imaging centres, and your treating team at CION can advise which partner centre they work with and what to expect. The report is reviewed alongside your full clinical picture at CION, so your oncologist is interpreting the findings in context rather than reading the report in isolation. If you have questions about a specific partner centre, your CION team is the right person to ask.

Call the centre and ask the questions listed on this page. Most will answer them. If you remain uncertain about the scanner or the reporting after speaking with them, raise it with your treating oncologist before the appointment — they may have direct experience with that centre or be able to suggest an alternative. A scan done at a centre that is not equipped for oncology PET-CT can sometimes need to be repeated, which adds cost and delays treatment decisions.