If your oncologist at Action Cancer Hospital has written “PET CT” on your prescription, you are probably holding that slip right now and wondering three things: where do I get this done, how much will it cost, and how soon can I have the report back in my doctor’s hands.
This guide answers all three, plainly. It is written for patients and families who are being treated at or around Action Cancer Hospital in Paschim Vihar, and who need a PET CT scan close by — without a long trip across Delhi on a day when they are already fasting and already anxious.
The short answer: a dedicated PET CT centre under a kilometre away
Neurad Diagnostic and Healthcare LLP is a dedicated PET-CT and nuclear medicine centre at B-3, opposite Metro Pillar No. 233, near Paschim Vihar West Metro Station, New Multan Nagar, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi-110056.
Action Cancer Hospital is in A-4 Block, Paschim Vihar. The two are roughly 800 metres apart in a straight line — both inside Paschim Vihar, a few minutes by car.
That distance matters more than it sounds. A PET CT scan involves fasting, an injection, a quiet uptake period and then the scan itself. It is a two to three hour commitment. Doing it a kilometre from where you are already being treated, instead of an hour away in another part of Delhi, changes the whole day for a patient who is mid-treatment.
We also provide complimentary pickup and drop within a 3 km radius, and Action Cancer Hospital falls comfortably inside that. If you or your attendant would rather not arrange a cab on scan day, tell us when you book and we will send transport.
To be clear about one thing: Neurad Diagnostic and Healthcare LLP is an independent diagnostic centre. We are not part of, owned by, or officially affiliated with Action Cancer Hospital. We are simply the nearest dedicated PET-CT facility, and we regularly scan patients who are under treatment at hospitals across West Delhi.
Why your oncologist ordered a PET CT in the first place
A PET CT is not a routine scan, and it is not ordered casually. When a cancer specialist asks for one, it is usually to answer a specific question that a plain CT or an ultrasound cannot answer.
1. Staging — how far has it spread?
Before treatment is planned, the team needs to know whether the disease is confined to one site or has travelled. A whole-body PET CT looks at the entire body in a single sitting, which is why it is used at the staging stage rather than a series of separate regional scans.
2. Response assessment — is the treatment working?
This is the question a PET CT answers better than almost anything else. After a few cycles of chemotherapy, a plain CT may still show a lump. But is that lump living, active disease — or is it dead scar tissue left behind by treatment that actually worked?
A CT cannot reliably tell the difference, because it sees structure. A PET CT sees metabolic activity. If the lump is still metabolically active, it lights up. If it is inactive scar tissue, it does not. That single distinction can change whether your treatment continues as planned or is switched.
3. Recurrence — has it come back?
When a tumour marker rises after treatment, or a symptom returns, the team needs to find whether and where disease has recurred — often before it is large enough to be obvious on other imaging.
4. Finding an unknown primary
Sometimes a secondary deposit is found first and the original site is unknown. A whole-body PET CT is used to search for the primary.
Not all PET scans are the same — which tracer is on your prescription?
This is where many patients get confused, and where choosing the right centre genuinely matters. “PET scan” is not one test. The scan is the same machine, but the tracer injected changes completely depending on what the doctor is looking for.
Look at your prescription. Somewhere on it there will be a word like FDG, PSMA, DOTANOC, FAPI, FDOPA or Exendin. That word is the tracer, and it determines which cancers the scan can see.
FDG PET CT
The most widely used tracer. FDG is a glucose analogue — a sugar molecule tagged with a short-lived radioactive isotope. Fast-growing cells consume sugar aggressively, so they take up FDG and appear as bright areas on the scan. Used across most solid tumours and lymphomas for staging and response assessment.
PSMA PET CT
Used in prostate cancer. PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) is a protein expressed on prostate cancer cells. A PSMA-targeted tracer binds to it, which makes this scan far more specific for prostate disease than FDG — particularly when PSA is rising after treatment and the source is not obvious.
DOTANOC PET CT
Used in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). These tumours often express somatostatin receptors, and DOTANOC binds to those receptors. It is also used to assess whether a patient is suitable for PRRT (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy).
FAPI PET CT
A newer tracer that targets fibroblast activation protein in the tumour stroma. It is particularly useful in cancers where FDG performs poorly — several gastrointestinal, pancreatic and hepatic cancers among them.
FDOPA PET CT
Used in specific neuroendocrine indications and in neurology, including Parkinsonian syndrome evaluation and certain brain tumours.
Exendin and Trivehexin PET CT
Specialised tracers for narrower indications — Exendin for insulinoma localisation, for example.
Why this list matters to you: many centres in Delhi only offer FDG, because FDG is produced in a cyclotron and delivered in. If your prescription says PSMA, DOTANOC, FAPI or Exendin, you may be told to wait several days for the tracer to be arranged — or sent elsewhere.
The in-house 68Ga generator, and why it removes the waiting
The tracers PSMA, DOTANOC, FAPI, Exendin and Trivehexin are all built on Gallium-68. Gallium-68 has a half-life of roughly 68 minutes, which means it cannot be manufactured somewhere far away and shipped over — by the time it arrives, most of it has decayed.
Centres solve this in one of two ways. Either they arrange a supply from an outside source on specific days, which means the patient waits for a slot when the tracer is available. Or they produce it on site with their own Gallium-68 generator.
Neurad has an in-house 68Ga generator. The practical effect for a patient at Action Cancer Hospital is straightforward: PSMA, DOTANOC, FAPI, Exendin and Trivehexin studies are scheduled on working days rather than held until an outside supply arrives. When your oncologist wants a restaging scan before the next cycle, that difference of a few days can matter to the treatment schedule.
What a PET CT costs, and why we do not print one number
Cost is usually the second question after location, and it deserves an honest answer rather than a headline figure.
The cost of a PET CT depends on which tracer is used, whether the study is whole-body or regional, whether a contrast-enhanced CT is included, and whether any additional views or delayed imaging are required. An FDG whole-body study and a 68Ga PSMA study are not the same procedure and do not cost the same.
So rather than advertise a single number that may not apply to your prescription, we do this: send us a photograph of the prescription on WhatsApp, and we reply with the all-inclusive rate for your exact study before you book. That figure includes the tracer and the scan. You will know the number before you commit to anything.
Two practical points on cost:
- Ask about your insurance or scheme early. If your treatment at the hospital is covered, the diagnostic imaging may be too. Bring the relevant documents on the day.
- Ask what is included. When comparing centres, check whether the quoted figure includes the tracer, contrast and the reporting, or whether those are billed separately.
How to prepare for a PET CT scan
Preparation is not optional. A poorly prepared scan can produce misleading images, which in the worst case means repeating the whole thing. We send written instructions when you book, but here is what preparation generally involves for an FDG study.
Fasting
You will usually be asked to fast for around 6 hours before the scan. Plain water is normally allowed and encouraged — being well hydrated helps. No tea, no coffee, no juice, no sweets, no chewing gum, nothing with sugar.
The reason is direct: FDG is a sugar analogue. If your blood already has a lot of glucose circulating, it competes with the tracer, and the tracer’s uptake into tumour tissue is reduced. The images become harder to read.
Blood sugar
Your blood sugar will be checked before the injection. If it is too high, the scan may need to be rescheduled. If you are diabetic, this needs planning — tell us when you book, and tell us what medication you are on and when you take it. Do not simply skip your medication on your own; let us and your treating doctor guide the timing.
Physical activity
Avoid strenuous exercise for around 24 hours before the scan. Muscles that have been worked hard take up FDG too, and bright muscle uptake can obscure what the radiologist is trying to see.
Warmth
In cooler months, keep warm before the scan. Brown fat activated by cold takes up FDG and can appear on the images in a way that complicates interpretation.
What to bring
- The prescription from your oncologist
- All previous scans and reports — earlier PET CTs, CTs, MRIs, biopsy and histopathology reports
- A list of current medications
- Insurance or scheme documents if applicable
- An attendant, if you would like one with you
Those previous reports are not a formality. A PET CT read alongside your earlier imaging tells the reporting doctor whether something has grown, shrunk or stayed the same — which is usually the actual clinical question.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Tell us before anything is injected. This is important and it changes what is done.
What actually happens on the day
Patients are often more anxious about the procedure than they need to be, largely because nobody has explained it. Here is the sequence.
Registration and blood sugar check
You arrive, we complete the paperwork, and your blood sugar is checked.
The injection
The tracer is given through a vein in the arm, much like a routine blood test or an IV line. The injection itself is not painful beyond the needle prick, and the tracer does not make you feel unwell.
The uptake period
This is the part most people are not expecting. After the injection you rest quietly for roughly 45 to 60 minutes while the tracer distributes and is taken up by tissue. You will be asked to sit or lie still, not to talk much, and not to walk around — because muscle activity during this window shows up on the images.
Bring nothing that requires movement or concentration. This is a period of genuine stillness. Your attendant may usually wait nearby.
The scan
The scan itself typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes. You lie on a table that moves slowly through a ring-shaped opening. It is open at both ends — this is not an enclosed tunnel like an MRI, and it is considerably quieter. You will be asked to stay still and to follow simple breathing instructions.
Afterwards
You can usually eat and resume your normal routine straight away. You will be advised to drink plenty of water to help clear the tracer, and to keep some distance from pregnant women and young children for the rest of the day as a standard precaution. The radioactivity is small and decays quickly.
Total time at the centre is usually two to three hours. Plan the day accordingly and do not schedule anything tight immediately afterwards.
Is a PET CT safe? The radiation question, answered honestly
Every patient asks this, and it deserves a straight answer rather than reassurance.
Yes, a PET CT involves ionising radiation — from the injected tracer and from the CT component. The dose is not trivial, and that is precisely why the scan is prescribed rather than offered casually. Your oncologist orders it when the information it provides outweighs the exposure.
The isotopes used decay quickly. Fluorine-18, used in FDG, has a half-life of under two hours. Gallium-68 is faster still at around 68 minutes. By the following day, essentially none of it remains in your body.
The precautions are simple and temporary: drink water, and keep some distance from pregnant women and infants for the remainder of the day. Our team will explain exactly what applies to your study before you leave.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or think you might be pregnant, this must be discussed before the scan is scheduled.
Getting your report back to your doctor
A scan is only as useful as the report that comes out of it, and how quickly it reaches the person treating you.
At Neurad, studies are reported by our own nuclear medicine team rather than outsourced. When you book, we tell you when the report will be ready. If your oncologist at the hospital needs it by a particular appointment or before the next treatment cycle, say so at the time of booking so the timing can be planned around it.
Coming from Action Cancer Hospital: the practical route
Both centres are in Paschim Vihar, roughly 800 metres apart in a straight line.
- By car: a few minutes. We are opposite Metro Pillar No. 233, near Paschim Vihar West Metro Station.
- By metro: Paschim Vihar West on the Green Line, then a short walk.
- By our pickup: complimentary within 3 km, which includes Action Cancer Hospital. Ask for it when you book.
We are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sunday is closed. PET CT studies are scheduled on working days, because the tracer is produced for a specific patient on a specific day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a doctor’s prescription for a PET CT scan?
Yes. A prescription is required for all PET CT studies. This is not a test that can be booked on your own initiative — the tracer has to be matched to the clinical question.
How long does the whole thing take?
Plan for two to three hours at the centre: registration and blood sugar check, injection, 45 to 60 minutes of quiet uptake, then a 20 to 30 minute scan.
Can I eat before the scan?
No. Around 6 hours of fasting is usually required for an FDG study. Plain water is allowed and helps. Your written instructions will confirm exactly what applies to your study.
I am diabetic. Can I still have a PET CT?
Yes, but it needs planning around your medication and blood sugar. Tell us when you book and we will work out the timing with you.
Can someone come with me?
Yes. An attendant is welcome. During the uptake period they will usually be asked to wait nearby rather than sit with you, because that window needs to be quiet and still.
Is the machine an enclosed tunnel like an MRI?
No. The PET CT ring is open at both ends and much shorter than an MRI bore. It is also far quieter. Patients who find MRI difficult usually manage a PET CT comfortably.
What is the difference between a PET CT and a plain CT?
A plain CT shows structure — size, shape, position. A PET CT shows structure and metabolic activity together. That is why it can distinguish active disease from treated scar tissue, which a plain CT cannot do reliably.
My prescription says PSMA, not FDG. Is that available?
Yes. PSMA, DOTANOC, FAPI, Exendin and Trivehexin studies are scheduled on working days, produced using our in-house 68Ga generator.
How much will it cost?
It depends on the tracer and the extent of the study. Send the prescription on WhatsApp and we will share the all-inclusive rate for your exact scan before you book.
Do you provide pickup from the hospital?
Yes — complimentary within a 3 km radius, which covers Action Cancer Hospital. Beyond 3 km, transport is charged at Rs 50 per km. Arrange it at the time of booking.
Booking your scan
The simplest way is to send us a photograph of the prescription on WhatsApp at 8368225620. We will reply with the next available slot, the written preparation instructions for your specific tracer, and the all-inclusive rate.
If you would rather speak to someone, call 8368225620 or 7011968879, Monday to Saturday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
And if you are not sure which scan has been advised — the handwriting is unclear, or the words mean nothing to you — send the prescription anyway. Working out which study is needed is our job, not yours.
A note on what this scan is and is not
A PET CT is a diagnostic tool. It gives your treating team information; it does not by itself diagnose or treat anything. The report goes to your oncologist, who reads it alongside your history, examination, blood work and earlier imaging, and decides what it means for your treatment.
Nothing in this article is medical advice or a substitute for your doctor’s judgement. If something here contradicts what your treating team has told you, follow your treating team.