Whole Body PET-CT Scan Package

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Surgery Name	Cost	Room	Hospitalization
Whole Body PET-CT Scan Package	USD 450	Outpatient Department	Outpatient Department

✓ Inclusion

✔Booking and preparation instructions in advance
✔Registration at an accredited nuclear medicine department
✔Pre-scan blood sugar check
✔FDG (F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose) radiotracer and injection
✔Whole body PET-CT scan (skull base to mid-thigh, or whole body as indicated)
✔Low-dose CT for anatomical localisation
✔Detailed report by a nuclear medicine specialist
✔Images on CD or secure online link
✔Report explained by coordinator; online review by Satyug's medical team
✔Free: airport pick-up & drop, visa invitation letter, interpreter & coordinator (Satyug Healthcare)

✗ Exclusion

✖Airfare, visa fees and travel insurance
✖Hotel or guest house stay
✖Contrast-enhanced diagnostic CT (if requested)
✖Special tracers (PSMA, DOTATATE/DOTANOC, F-DOPA, FAPI)
✖Brain or cardiac PET protocols
✖Oncologist or other specialist consultations
✖Biopsy, blood tests and other investigations
✖Sedation or anaesthesia for children
✖Medicines and personal expenses

Know More About Procedure & Surgery

🇮🇳 DIAGNOSTIC PACKAGE — INDIA

Whole Body PET-CT Scan in India

Whole body FDG PET-CT scan to detect, stage and monitor cancer and to look for hidden infection or inflammation, done on modern scanners and reported by experienced nuclear medicine specialists at accredited hospitals in India – at a fraction of US, UK or Gulf prices.

✅ Free Medical Opinion in 48–72 h🔬 Report in 24–48 hours💰 Starting USD 450✈️ Visa & Airport Support🗣️ Interpreter Available

⏱️

2–3 hrs

Total time at centre

🏥

Outpatient

No hospital stay

📈

~90%

Accuracy for many cancers

📅

2–4 days

Total stay in India

📖 What is a Whole Body PET-CT Scan?

A PET-CT scan combines two scans in one machine. The PET (positron emission tomography) part shows how active your body's cells are, and the CT (computed tomography) part shows the exact shape and location of organs. Cancer cells usually use much more sugar than normal cells. So before the scan, a small amount of radioactive sugar called FDG is injected into a vein. Areas that take up more sugar light up on the scan.

A whole body PET-CT scans from the head or skull base to the mid-thigh (or the whole body when needed) in one session. Doctors use it to find out whether a lump is cancer, how far a cancer has spread (staging), whether treatment is working, and whether cancer has come back. It is also used to look for hidden infection, fever of unknown cause and some heart and brain conditions.

🩺 When a PET-CT Scan Is Used

🎗️

Cancer staging

Finds out how far a newly diagnosed cancer has spread – lung, lymphoma, head and neck, oesophagus, colorectal, breast, cervix and others.

📉

Treatment response

Shows whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy is working, especially in lymphoma.

🔁

Suspected recurrence

Checks if cancer has come back when tumour markers rise or symptoms return.

❓

Unknown primary cancer

Searches for the source when cancer is found in a lymph node or organ.

🫁

Lung nodule assessment

Helps decide whether a lung spot larger than about 8 mm is likely to be cancer.

🌡️

Infection and fever of unknown cause

Finds hidden infection or inflammation when other tests are normal.

⚠️ Reasons Your Doctor May Order a PET-CT

➤A new cancer diagnosis needing staging before treatment
➤Lymph node swelling with suspected lymphoma
➤Rising tumour markers (such as CEA or CA-125) after treatment
➤A lung spot or mass on X-ray or CT

➤Checking response mid-way or after chemotherapy
➤Planning radiotherapy fields
➤Unexplained weight loss or fever with abnormal tests
➤Cancer found in a lymph node with no known source

💡 PET-CT is not a general screening test for healthy people. It uses radiation and can give false alarms from inflammation. It is also not ideal for some cancers – for example prostate cancer (a PSMA PET is better), many neuroendocrine tumours (Ga-68 DOTA PET is better) and small brain metastases (MRI is better). A specialist should request the scan based on your diagnosis.

🔬 Tests Before Treatment

Test	Why it is done
Fasting blood sugar (on the day)	High sugar reduces scan accuracy – usually needs to be under about 150–200 mg/dL
Kidney function (creatinine)	Needed if contrast dye will be used for the CT part
Previous scans and reports	Allows the doctor to compare old and new findings
Biopsy / histopathology report	Tells the team what type of cancer is being assessed
Treatment history	Dates of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery affect how the scan is read
Pregnancy check (women of child-bearing age)	PET-CT is avoided in pregnancy

🏥 The Procedure — Step by Step

Booking and preparation

Satyug books your slot and sends instructions: fast for 4–6 hours, drink water, avoid heavy exercise for 24 hours.

Registration

Arrive at the nuclear medicine department with your reports and previous scans.

Sugar check

A finger-prick blood sugar test is done. Diabetic patients get special timing advice.

Tracer injection

A small dose of FDG is injected into a vein through a cannula.

Quiet rest

You rest quietly in a reclining chair for about 45–60 minutes while the tracer spreads through the body.

Empty bladder

You pass urine just before the scan.

Scanning

You lie still on the scanner table for about 15–30 minutes. Contrast dye may be given for the CT part.

After the scan

Drink plenty of water. Avoid close contact with babies and pregnant women for about 6–12 hours.

Reporting

A nuclear medicine specialist and radiologist read the images. The report is usually ready in 24–48 hours.

Specialist review

Optional oncologist consultation to explain results and plan treatment.

⚖️ Types of PET-CT Scans

Scan type	What it shows	Best for
FDG whole body PET-CT	Areas using high sugar	Most cancers, lymphoma, infection – this package
PSMA PET-CT (Ga-68 / F-18)	Prostate cancer cells	Prostate cancer staging and recurrence
Ga-68 DOTATATE / DOTANOC PET-CT	Neuroendocrine tumour receptors	Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs)
FDG brain PET-CT	Brain sugar use	Dementia, epilepsy surgery planning
Cardiac PET (FDG / perfusion)	Heart muscle viability and blood flow	Heart failure and bypass planning

📊 Major cancer guidelines (NCCN, ESMO) recommend FDG PET-CT for staging lymphoma, lung, head and neck, oesophageal and cervical cancer; in non-small cell lung cancer it detects spread to lymph nodes with about 80–90% sensitivity and finds unexpected distant spread in roughly 10–20% of patients.

📅 Your Day-by-Day Plan in India

Day	What happens
Day 1	Arrival in India, airport pick-up and hotel check-in
Day 2	Morning PET-CT scan after 4–6 hours fasting (about 2–3 hours at the centre)
Day 3	Report collection and optional oncologist consultation
Day 4	Fly home ✈️ with report, images on CD/link and treatment advice

🌱 Recovery After Treatment

🚶

Right after the scan

You can go back to normal activities and eat normally.

💧

First 6 hours

Drink plenty of water to flush the tracer out through urine.

👶

First 6–12 hours

Avoid holding babies or close contact with pregnant women.

🚗

Same day

Most people can drive; if sedation was given, do not drive that day.

📄

24–48 hours

Report ready; review it with your oncologist.

✈️

Next day

You are free to fly – the tracer is mostly gone within a few hours.

🏆 Success Rate

Outcome	Result
Sensitivity for lymphoma staging	About 90–95%
Lung nodule >8 mm: sensitivity / specificity	About 90% / 75–80%
Change in treatment plan after PET-CT in many cancers	About 20–40% of patients
Report time	24–48 hours
Time at centre	2–3 hours

Accuracy depends on good preparation (fasting and normal blood sugar), the type of cancer, recent treatment (inflammation after surgery or radiotherapy can show up) and the experience of the reporting specialist.

🩹 Risks & Possible Complications

PET-CT is a safe test. Possible issues include:

•Radiation exposure (about 10–25 mSv, similar to a few years of natural background radiation; benefit outweighs risk when properly indicated)
•False positive results from infection or inflammation (may need biopsy or further tests)
•False negative results for small or slow-growing tumours
•Mild bruising at the injection site
•Allergic reaction to CT contrast dye if used (uncommon)
•Not suitable during pregnancy; breastfeeding mothers may need to pause briefly as advised

💰 Cost of Whole Body PET-CT Scan in India

The cost of a whole body PET-CT scan in India starts from about USD 450. This includes the FDG tracer, the scan, a detailed written report and images on CD or online link. The price can change with contrast CT, special tracers (PSMA, DOTA) or additional scan areas.

Option / Hospital tier	Approx. cost (USD)	Hospital stay	Notes
Whole body FDG PET-CT – this package	450	Outpatient	Scan, report and images
PET-CT with contrast CT	500 – 650	Outpatient	Detailed CT with dye
PSMA PET-CT (prostate)	600 – 900	Outpatient	Ga-68 or F-18 PSMA tracer
Ga-68 DOTA PET-CT (neuroendocrine)	600 – 900	Outpatient	Special tracer

⚠️ Final cost depends on the hospital, tracer type, use of contrast, number of areas scanned and any consultations added. Quotes are confirmed when the scan is booked.

Whole Body PET-CT Scan cost comparison India USA UK Turkey

📋 What the Package Includes

✅ Included

✔FDG radiotracer
✔Whole body PET-CT scan
✔Blood sugar check before the scan
✔Detailed report by nuclear medicine specialist
✔Images on CD or online link
✔Coordinator support on scan day

❌ Not Included

✖Flights and visa fees
✖Hotel stay
✖Contrast CT (if needed)
✖Special tracers (PSMA, DOTA, F-DOPA)
✖Oncologist or specialist consultation
✖Biopsy or other tests
✖Sedation if needed
✖Medicines

✈️ Your Medical Travel Process with Satyug Healthcare

Medical travel journey to India for Whole Body PET-CT Scan

Step	Details
1. Send reports	The doctor's referral note stating the reason for the scan, biopsy/histopathology report, previous CT, MRI or PET-CT reports with images, details of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery with dates, recent tumour marker results and, for diabetics, current sugar control.
2. Free opinion & quotes	Within 48-72 hours you receive opinions and cost estimates from 3-5 leading hospitals to compare.
3. Choose hospital & doctor	We help you compare doctors, success rates, room options and total budget.
4. Medical visa	The hospital issues a Visa Invitation Letter (VIL) to the Indian Embassy. The patient and up to 2 attendants apply for an e-Medical / Medical Attendant visa.
5. Travel planning	Flight guidance, wheelchair assistance, airport pick-up, hotel or guest house near the hospital.
6. Treatment in India	Your coordinator and interpreter stay with you for admission, treatment, discharge and billing.
7. Return & follow-up	Fit-to-fly letter, medicines, and online follow-up with your doctor after you return home.

🎒 Travel Checklist

📌Valid passport (6+ months) for the patient and attendants, plus 10 passport-size photos each
📌Medical visa / e-visa and the hospital’s Visa Invitation Letter
📌All biopsy, previous CT/MRI/PET-CT and tumour marker reports, scans on CD / link and prescriptions
📌Yellow fever vaccination certificate (mandatory for travellers from African countries)
📌Polio vaccination certificate where applicable
📌Declare cash above USD 5,000 at the airport; hospitals accept wire transfer and cards
📌Foreigners staying longer than permitted must register with the FRRO — our team assists

⭐ Why Choose Satyug Healthcare?

🏥

Top Accredited Hospitals

Medanta – The Medicity, Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket, Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Artemis Hospital, BLK-Max, Indraprastha Apollo, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Manipal Hospitals – with modern (including digital) PET-CT scanners and in-house cyclotrons or tracer supply.

👨‍⚕️

Senior Specialists

Scans are read by experienced nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists, and results can be explained the same week by senior oncologists.

💵

Transparent Pricing

Multiple written quotes to compare — no hidden charges, no extra fee for our service.

🤝

End-to-End Support

Visa, airport pick-up, accommodation, interpreter and 24/7 coordinator.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

➤ How much does a whole body PET-CT scan cost in India?

A whole body FDG PET-CT scan in India starts from about USD 450 including the report and images. Contrast CT or special tracers such as PSMA or DOTA cost more, usually USD 500–900.

➤ How long does the scan take?

Plan for about 2–3 hours at the centre: sugar check, injection, about an hour of rest, and 15–30 minutes on the scanner.

➤ How long do I need to stay in India?

Usually 2–4 days: arrival, scan the next morning, report in 24–48 hours and an optional oncologist visit.

➤ Do I need to fast?

Yes. Do not eat for 4–6 hours before the scan. You can drink plain water. Avoid sugary drinks and heavy exercise the day before.

➤ I am diabetic – can I have a PET-CT?

Yes. Your blood sugar should be under control on the day. The team will tell you how to time your diabetes medicines and insulin.

➤ Is the scan painful?

No. Only the small needle for the injection is felt. You just lie still on the scanner.

➤ Is the radiation dangerous?

The dose is moderate and the tracer leaves the body within hours. When the scan is needed for cancer care, the benefit is much greater than the small radiation risk.

➤ Can a PET-CT miss cancer?

Yes, sometimes. Very small tumours, some slow-growing cancers and prostate or neuroendocrine tumours may not show well on FDG. Your doctor may suggest another type of scan.

➤ Can a PET-CT show cancer when there is none?

Yes. Infection, inflammation and healing tissue also take up sugar. A biopsy or follow-up scan may be needed to confirm findings.

➤ When will I get my report?

Usually within 24–48 hours, with images on CD or a download link.

➤ Can I have a PET-CT if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

PET-CT is avoided in pregnancy. Breastfeeding mothers may be advised to express milk beforehand and pause feeding for a few hours.

➤ Can children have PET-CT?

Yes, when needed for cancers such as lymphoma. The dose is adjusted for weight, and young children may need light sedation.

➤ Can a family member come with me?

Yes. One or two attendants can come on a medical attendant visa. Satyug provides the visa invitation letter.

➤ Will there be an interpreter?

Yes. Satyug provides interpreters for Arabic, French, Russian and other languages, plus a coordinator on scan day.

💬 Get a Free Opinion & Cost Estimate

Send your medical reports today and receive opinions from India’s top specialists within 48-72 hours.

📞 +91-8860606766 | +91-9910655125 | ✉️ query@satyughealthcare.com

Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified specialist. Treatment plans and costs are confirmed only after the patient is examined. Sources: NCBI StatPearls: PET-CT Imaging; NCBI StatPearls: FDG PET; SNMMI / EANM procedure guidelines for FDG PET/CT tumour imaging (EANM 2015); NCCN and ESMO cancer guidelines; Fleischner Society and BTS guidance on pulmonary nodules; RadiologyInfo.org (ACR/RSNA): PET/CT; NHS: PET scan; Cleveland Clinic. Infographics: Satyug Healthcare.