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Trying to get costs of PET scans can be challenging. Even when you have the information, it's not clear what exactly you might be paying for. What is included? Does the price include the Radiology report? And what if you need additional testing? This post is one of a series of posts that look at costs of Radiology tests and will be a work in progress. I hope it sheds some light on what PET scan prices include and don't include...

PET scan costs will vary in price even in the same town. Hospitals are generally more expensive and have less favorable cash fee schedules than their outpatient counterparts. Hospitals are also less likely to negotiate prices with you. Keep in mind though that there are few outpatient centers that can afford to own a PET/CT scanner, so you may find that in your area you are limited to one or two choices. This of course limits competition and keeps prices high.

Prices include the radioisotope and special images

PET and PET/CT scans are done with an injected radioisotope that is taken up by very active tisse such as cancer cells. The radioisotope is quite expensive and accounts for some of the high costs of PET scans. PET/CT scans also use special image processsing software that fuses the PET and CT scan images into one so that metabolic data from the PET part of the scan is overlayed onto the anatomic detail of the CT scan.

The Radiology report is included

PET scan costs include the official Radiologist interpretation. This includes comparing to older PET scans even if done at another hospital or imaging center. Your doctor receives a copy of the report.

Copies of the CD or films

Sometimes you'll be asked to take a CD or films of your PET scan to your doctor to review. Most facilities will give you a copy, if requested, free of charge.

Call back for additional images may not be included

You won't be charged for call backs if due to technical issues or if you were unable to complete the exam because of pain. However, if it is for "more testing", then yes, there will be additional costs.

Simplifying it for you...

Do you have any suggestions for us? Please leave your comments below:

PET scans are very good at identifying small "islands" of cancer and when combined with a CT scan can locate cancerous lymph nodes and tumors in internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and brain.

Recent advances which fuse PET and CT scan images have lead to PET scan's growing use in cancer diagnosis and treatment. PET scans look for:

• Colorectal cancer
• Lung cancer
• Melanoma
• Lymphoma
• Esophageal cancer
  

Other uses include evaluating heart muscle viability and bloodflow, brain seizure activity and diagnosing memory disorders.

What to do before your PET scan:

It helps to be prepared in advance of your appointment time. You will need to get a Radiology referral or prescription from your doctor. Check to make sure the facility you choose takes your insurance plan and your plan has authorized the PET scan. Get preparation instructions from the facility’s staff in advance as most PET scans require special preparation instructions.  Let the facility know if you are diabetic or are on medication. Although you should follow your doctor’s advice, you can choose any local imaging center to perform your PET scan. If you are uninsured you can use our website to look up PET scan costs, find a local imaging center, and buy your test.

What to expect during and after your PET scan:

• The PET scan appointment may take up to 2 hours. Plan accordingly.
• PET scan tests will require an injection. An IV is placed and a radiotracer is injected before the scanner takes pictures.
• You may need to take a film or CD copy of your PET scan to your doctor.
• A physician Radiologist will interpret the PET scan. A report is sent to your doctor.

A recent Health Affairs article examined the challenges in determining how high tech medical imaging adds value to our healthcare. The article showed that in the U.S. there has been rapid expansion of the number of Radiology centers which is associated with an increase in use of Radiology imaging such as MRI, CT and PET scans.

MRI data points:

• There are over 7000 imaging centers in the U.S.
• That do 26 million MRI test each year
• At a cost of $18 billion

Although measuring both the tangible cost savings and the intangible benefits is enormously challenging, Radiology touches on nearly every major medical condition, has become an indespensible tool in treatment and diagnosis, accelerating the speed at which doctors can gather information and help them develop precise treatment plans.

Advances in Radiology have also reduced the need for invasive exams. These new Radiology tests are more comfortable, generate less patient anxiety and require shorter recovery times.

For example, CT Angiograms are increasingly replacing the need for catheter angiograms. Catheter angiograms require puncturing a major vessel in the groin area (femoral artery) to inject the contrast/dye. Whereas, during a CT Angiogram the contrast is given through an IV. Virtual colonoscopy, which uses a CT scanner, is being refined to supplant traditional invasive colonoscopy which uses a long tube to examine the colon.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans have gained wide spread adoption among oncologists. They stage and monitor treatment of a variety of cancers. PET scans can detect small "islands" of cancer cells that are not picked up by MRI and CT scans.

As Radiology technology advances, we'll see the availability of high tech medical imaging become widespread. The time to diagnose disease will become shorter and treatment plans will be personalized for each patient.

What are your thoughts? Can you think of any other benefits? Please leave your comments below.