Your scan results
When Will You Get — Your PET-CT Report?
Your PET-CT report will not be ready when you walk out of the imaging centre. A specialist still has to review every image before a word of the report can be written. Here is what happens at each step, and what you can do while you wait.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Not the same day — The scan captures hundreds of image slices. A specialist review takes time that cannot be shortened safely.
- A physician, not a technician — The person who ran your scanner is trained to operate the equipment. A different specialist — a nuclear medicine physician — writes the report.
- Urgency can help — If your oncologist has flagged your case as urgent, the imaging centre will prioritise it. A request from your treating team carries more weight than a patient enquiry at the front desk.
- Your oncologist reads it first — The report goes to the doctor who referred you before it reaches you. They will explain what it means in the context of your full treatment picture.
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Your PET-CT report is not ready the same day as your scan. A nuclear medicine physician needs to review every image slice carefully before the report can be written. In most centres this takes at least a full working day, sometimes longer. Your oncologist will contact you once the report is in their hands.
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 happens between your scan and your result?
Scan completed
You leave the imaging centre after the session ends. The scanner saves your images to the system — this part is immediate.
Image processing
Software combines the PET metabolic data and the CT anatomy into a single layered dataset. This is automated but takes time before the images are ready to read.
Nuclear medicine physician review
A specialist goes through every image slice systematically, checking for findings and comparing against any previous scans you have had. This is the longest step and cannot be rushed without risk of error.
Report written and verified
The physician dictates their findings. The report is checked and signed before release. Some centres have a second physician review before sign-off.
Report sent to your oncologist
The imaging centre sends the completed report directly to the doctor who referred you. It goes to them before it reaches you.
Your oncologist contacts you
Your doctor reads the report in the context of your full history and treatment plan before calling or seeing you. This step takes a little time because the conversation matters as much as the document.
Why does the report take as long as it does?
A PET-CT is not a single photograph. It is a dataset of hundreds of image slices, each showing metabolic activity and anatomy together. The nuclear medicine physician goes through every slice before writing a word of the report.
Comparing your current scan against previous imaging takes additional time. A finding only makes sense when it is measured against where you started or where you were at your last scan.
No part of this review can be automated. Thoroughness is what makes the report useful — speed at this step is not a virtue.
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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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
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Can you get the report faster, and what should you do while you wait?
If your situation is genuinely urgent, ask your oncologist to flag the referral accordingly. Imaging centres prioritise urgent reports, and a request from your treating team carries more weight than a patient enquiry.
A single call to the imaging centre the morning after your scan, to confirm the expected timeline, is reasonable. Calling repeatedly will not speed the review.
If the timeline you were given at registration has passed and you have not heard from your oncologist, call the clinic — not the imaging centre. Your oncologist's team can tell you whether the report has arrived and when you can be seen.
Did you know?
The nuclear medicine physician who writes your report describes exactly what the scan shows — without interpreting what it means for your treatment. That second step is your oncologist's job.
This is not a gap in the process. It is how PET-CT reporting is designed: one specialist ensures the images are described accurately, and another ensures that description is understood in the context of your full treatment picture.
Source: AERB Guidelines for Nuclear Medicine Practice in India
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 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
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does a PET-CT report take?
Most imaging centres send the report to your referring oncologist within one to a few business days of your scan, though this varies by centre and by how busy the department is. The timeline the imaging centre gives you at registration is the most reliable guide for your specific situation. Urgent reports, where your oncologist has indicated clinical urgency, are typically prioritised over routine ones.
Why can't the technician tell me the result immediately after the scan?
The technician who runs the scanner is trained to operate the equipment safely and precisely — not to interpret what the images show. Reading a PET-CT scan is a separate specialist skill belonging to a nuclear medicine physician, who is often not present in the scanning room during your scan. The two roles are deliberately separate because each requires a different kind of expertise.
Can I read my own report before seeing my oncologist?
You are entitled to a copy of your own report, and having it with you when you see your oncologist is useful. Read it knowing that the language is technical and that individual terms have precise meanings in nuclear medicine that do not translate directly into plain English. The report describes what the scan shows; what it means for your treatment is a separate conversation that needs your full clinical context. Wait for that conversation before drawing conclusions.
My oncologist hasn't called — should I collect the report myself?
If the timeline you were given has passed, call your oncologist's clinic first. The clinic can tell you whether the report has arrived and when you can be seen. If they confirm the report has not arrived, contact the imaging centre with that information. Following up through the clinic rather than the imaging centre is almost always the faster path to an actual answer.
I need to travel — can I get the report before my oncologist appointment?
Tell the imaging centre at registration or as soon as possible after your scan. Many centres can release a copy of the written report directly to you alongside sending it to your oncologist. A disc or USB with your scan images — separate from the written report — is also usually available on request. Both are worth asking for if you are travelling or planning a second opinion, because the images are required for a full second-opinion review.