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The Cost of PET Scans for Treatment Planning Efficiency

The Cost of PET Scans for Treatment Planning Efficiency

How Much Do PET Scans Cost?

Nuclear imaging tests, such as PET/CT scans, are costly, and while health insurance usually puts a big dent in the bill a patient will receive, the average cost of a PET scan can range anywhere from $1,200 to over $20,000.

Prices are greatly affected by numerous factors, including:

  • Procedure location on the body (i.e. heart versus brain or whole body)
  • Regional location of the facility (i.e. prices vary from state to state, as well as city and county)
  • What is covered by the patient’s insurance
  • Facility setting (outpatient versus inpatient hospital setting)

The final point listed above is a significant factor in determining cost. Inpatient hospital settings are more expensive than outpatient facilities, although tests conducted in a hospital are no more clinically accurate than those performed at other imaging centers.

PET scans conducted at physicians’ practices or other outpatient facilities, such as mobile imaging clinics from Cardiac Imaging, offer numerous benefits to patients and physicians alike. Not only are PET imaging scans more affordable, but patients can benefit from receiving treatment in a controlled environment where the risks of contracting illness or infection are low.

Physicians can also provide a greater convenience to their patients by offering on-site imaging through our fixed site imaging services. Physicians are able to utilize our comprehensive turnkey operations in the comfort and safety of their own practices, further eliminating the risks associated with hospital settings.

The clinical information gained from nuclear imaging proves invaluable in treatment planning. Even in hospital settings, the benefits far outweigh the costs. However, knowing there are cheaper alternatives that offer the same reliable results in outpatient environments further underlines the fact that the detailed images gained from Positron Emission Tomography scans should be utilized whenever necessary.

Contact Us at Cardiac Imaging Today

If you are interested in improving your practice with fixed site PET and PET/CT technology, or taking advantage of Cardiac Imaging’s mobile clinics, Contact us today to learn more about our services.