【PET Scan Price Comparison 2025】Positron emission tomography scan costs and side effects—all in one article! (Including PET-CT and PET-MRI)

Positron emission tomography PET Scan is an advanced radionuclide imaging examination, mainly used to detect and monitor cancer, including determining whether cancer cells have spread. It is commonly used in the diagnosis of breast cancer, prostate cancer and oesophageal cancer. Compared with CT Scan and MRI Scan, Positron emission tomography PET Scan can detect cancer at an earlier stage. However, do standard medical insurance policies cover the costs of such examinations?

Positron emission tomography PET Scan examinations offered by private hospitals in Hong Kong mainly comprise positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI). PET provides metabolic data, while CT and MRI provide structural information about parts of the body. Compared with using a single technology, hybrid imaging can provide more information to assist doctors in making a diagnosis.

PET-CT and PET-MRI examinations are non-invasive, take approximately 2 to 4 hours and can be performed on an outpatient basis. As outpatient examinations do not require an overnight hospital stay, they are less expensive.

At the six hospitals mentioned above, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) examinations cost between HK$16,200 and HK$21,960. The cost varies depending on whether a contrast agent needs to be injected. If the scan covers the whole trunk and includes the brain, the cost will be higher. As for positron emission tomography–magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) examinations, Gleneagles Hospital and St. Teresa’s Hospital also provide this service. A whole-trunk scan at Gleneagles Hospital costs HK$16,690, while the price is HK$23,040 if a contrast agent needs to be injected. St. Teresa’s Hospital requires a patient referral letter before providing an individual quotation. The above prices are for reference only. Actual charges may vary depending on the patient’s condition. Please consult healthcare professionals for details.

Both PET-CT and PET-MRI require the intravenous injection of medicines containing radioactive isotopes, but these will not affect bodily functions or cause discomfort. After the examination, the small amount of radiation remaining in the body will be excreted in the urine.

In addition, PET-CT and PET-MRI may also require the injection of intravenous contrast agents to obtain more diagnostic information. Contrast agents may cause some adverse reactions. If you have previously had an allergic reaction to a contrast agent, please inform your doctor in advance of the examination. You may need to take anti-allergy medication before the examination.

1. Radioactive isotope medication will be injected, after which you will be taken to a rest area to wait for your body to absorb the medication.
2. Lie flat on the scanning bed and you will be slowly moved into the machine.      
   If a contrast agent has been injected, you will need to rest for 20 minutes to ensure that there is no allergic reaction before leaving.
3. After the examination, you may eat and engage in activities as usual.  
    

For the costs of a PET Scan, higher-tier VHIS or premium medical insurance will usually reimburse the full amount if the scan is medically necessary. Older or lower-tier medical insurance policies may not cover it, or may impose co-insurance, meaning that the policyholder must bear part of the costs. Therefore, it is advisable to check with the insurance company before undergoing the scan to avoid disputes.

Finally, if you would like to compare the coverage provided by different products in this regard, you can use the Insurance Decoder to compare products’ coverage for Prescribed Diagnostic Imaging Tests. This item covers examinations such as computerised tomography CT Scan, magnetic resonance imaging MRI and PET Scan.

Further reading 
〈【MRI price comparison】A complete guide to MRI examination fees and contrast agent side effects〉    
〈【CT Scan】Learn about the side effects and examination costs of computerised tomography!〉 
〈【CT vs PET vs MRI】Compare diagnostic imaging technologies in one article: what should you pay attention to when buying medical insurance?〉

Notes:    
1. Sources: Scanning Department of St. Teresa’s Hospital (French Hospital) and Hong Kong Integrated Oncology Centre.    
2. This article was last updated on 27 January 2025.

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.