PET CT Scan Cost in United Arab Emirates

The cost of a PET-CT scan in the UAE typically ranges from $2,000 to $18,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

A PET-CT scan combines positron emission tomography, which shows how active tissues are, with a CT scan, which shows their structure. In the UAE, the price depends on:

• Tracer: FDG for most cancers, or specialised tracers such as PSMA.
• Area scanned: whole body or a targeted region.
• Centre: nuclear medicine department fees.
• Reporting: by a nuclear medicine specialist.

A PET-CT scan is a single diagnostic test. A quote near the upper end of the range above is unusual, so ask what it includes.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust explains that PET-CT helps confirm or rule out a diagnosis and plan treatment. It is widely used to stage cancer and to check how a cancer has responded to treatment.

For an FDG scan, CUH advises drinking only plain water for six hours beforehand. People with diabetes should contact the department in advance, because blood sugar needs to be low enough for clear images. The visit lasts about two hours, including 60 to 90 minutes of rest after the injection and a scan of 10 to 20 minutes.

CUH advises avoiding close contact with pregnant women and young children for six hours, and drinking plenty of fluids. Results usually reach the referring doctor within one to two weeks.

Check with your insurer whether prior approval is needed for advanced imaging; the referring clinic can usually arrange it.