Your scan at a cancer centre — what happens next
Who Reports — Your Cardiac or Brain PET Scan?
Being sent to a cancer centre for a PET scan can feel confusing when your scan has nothing to do with cancer. Here is who reads your images, who receives the report, and who will explain it to you.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- A nuclear medicine physician reads it — This is a doctor trained specifically in PET imaging, not the staff who administered the scan.
- The report goes to your referring doctor — Your cardiologist, neurologist, or GP receives the written report directly from the imaging centre.
- Your specialist explains the findings — They place the results in the context of your full history — not the images alone.
- This is not a cancer scan — PET is used for heart, brain, and many other conditions. Being scanned here does not mean cancer is suspected.
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Your PET scan is read by a nuclear medicine physician or radiologist. They write a formal report and send it to the specialist who referred you — your cardiologist, neurologist, or other doctor. That specialist explains the findings at your follow-up appointment. The scan centre does not give you the result or interpret it for you.
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.
Which specialist reads your PET scan?
A nuclear medicine physician reads your images and writes the formal report. This is a doctor trained specifically in how PET tracers behave in living tissue, whether the scan is for your heart, your brain, or another organ.
PET scans are used for many conditions that have nothing to do with cancer. A cardiac PET looks at blood flow and how well your heart muscle is working. A brain PET can help assess memory disorders, movement conditions, and other neurological questions. Being referred here does not mean cancer is suspected.
The nuclear medicine physician interprets what the images show. They do not have your full clinical history — that context lives with your referring doctor, which is why the report goes to them, not directly to you.
How does the report travel from the scanner to your doctor?
Your scan is completed
The imaging team administers the radiotracer and acquires the images. Their role ends here — they do not interpret results.
A nuclear medicine physician reviews the images
Usually the same or next business day. They study the scan alongside the clinical information your referring doctor provided.
The formal report is written
The physician documents their findings in a structured clinical report. This is what your doctor acts on — not anything said to you at the time of the scan.
The report is sent to your referring doctor
It goes directly to the specialist or GP who ordered your scan. Clinical responsibility for your care stays with them.
Your follow-up appointment
Your referring doctor discusses the findings with you, placing the results alongside everything else they know about your health.
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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Does your referring doctor receive the full report?
Yes. The written report goes directly to the doctor who referred you. Clinical responsibility for your care — including deciding what the findings mean for your treatment — stays with that doctor.
If a GP referred you rather than a specialist, the report goes to them first. Confirm this with whoever wrote your referral letter so you know exactly who to contact when the report is ready.
Who explains the findings to you?
Your referring specialist explains the results, usually at your next scheduled appointment. They will place the imaging findings alongside your symptoms, your other test results, and everything else they know about how you have been.
Scan staff are not in a position to interpret your results during or after the scan. If anyone at the centre mentions what they saw on the images, ask your referring doctor to clarify — the formal written report is what matters and what your doctor will act on.
If you leave without a follow-up already booked, call your referring doctor's office the same day to arrange one.
Other questions about the reporting process
What if the scan finds something unexpected?
If the nuclear medicine physician sees something that needs urgent attention, they flag it to your referring doctor immediately rather than waiting for the routine report. Your doctor then decides whether to contact you before your scheduled appointment. This pathway exists precisely so that important findings do not wait — it is a standard clinical safeguard, not a cause for alarm in itself.
Can I get a copy of the report for myself?
You are entitled to ask for your report. Request it from your referring doctor's office or from the imaging centre, depending on which holds the record. Some people find it helpful to read the report before their appointment so they can prepare questions. Keep in mind that reports are written in clinical language for doctors — your specialist will translate what the findings mean for your situation.
How long does the report take to reach my doctor?
Most routine PET reports are ready within one to three business days. Complex cases, or those that need a second opinion, can take longer. If you have not heard from your doctor within a week of your scan, call their office to confirm the report has arrived and that your follow-up appointment is still scheduled. Do not assume that no news is good news.
I was sent to a cancer centre — does that mean cancer is suspected?
Not at all. PET technology is used across many specialties, and cancer centres often house the most capable PET imaging equipment in a region. A cardiologist or neurologist sending you here is using the technology, not suggesting a cancer diagnosis. Your referral letter states exactly what your doctor is investigating — that is the question your scan is trying to answer, and nothing more.
What if I cannot reach my referring doctor after the scan?
Contact their clinic or hospital directly and ask to speak with a nurse or care coordinator. Explain that you have had a PET scan and need to confirm your follow-up date. If you develop new symptoms in the days after the scan that concern you — unrelated to the radiotracer — contact the clinic promptly rather than waiting for your results appointment.
Book a PET-CT at CION from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation, across 4 partner centres. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
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Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Who is clinically responsible for explaining my results?
Your referring specialist — your cardiologist, neurologist, or GP — retains full clinical responsibility for your care. The nuclear medicine physician provides expert imaging interpretation but does not take over your care. All questions about your results, your health, and your next steps should go to the doctor who referred you. They are the right person to explain what the findings mean for your specific situation.
Will I be told anything at the scan centre on the day?
The imaging staff will tell you when the scan is finished and when you are free to leave. They will not interpret or discuss the images — that is the role of the nuclear medicine physician who reviews the full study afterwards, and then your referring doctor at your follow-up. If anyone at the centre mentions what they saw, treat it as informal and wait for the formal written report before drawing any conclusions.
How long after the scan should I expect to hear from my doctor?
Most reports take one to three business days to reach your doctor. When your doctor contacts you depends on their clinic's follow-up process. If a week has passed and you have not heard anything, call their office to check that the report arrived and confirm your appointment is scheduled. Do not wait indefinitely — a brief call ensures nothing has been missed.
Is a PET scan at CION the same as a cancer investigation?
No. PET is used to investigate many conditions beyond cancer — heart disease, epilepsy, dementia, movement disorders, and inflammatory conditions among them. CION coordinates PET-CT with partner imaging centres for patients referred across a wide range of investigations. Being sent here for a cardiac or brain PET means your doctor wants a specific type of functional imaging. It does not indicate a cancer diagnosis or suspicion.
What should I bring to my follow-up appointment after the scan?
Bring a written list of questions that have come to mind since the scan. Note any symptoms you experienced during or after the procedure, and anything new you have noticed since. If you have obtained a copy of the report in advance, bring it — but do not try to interpret it alone. Your referring doctor will go through the findings with you and explain what they mean in the context of your full clinical picture.