PET-CT
PET-CT cost in China in 2026
Prices checked 26 October 2026 (Taipei time)
A PET-CT scan in China is capped at ¥2,500 for one area and ¥5,000 for the whole body in public hospitals, about $372 to $744, with the radioactive tracer charged on top.
- Scan-fee caps are the same in all four cities: ¥2,500 one area, ¥4,000 torso, ¥5,000 whole body.
- Shanghai also sets caps including the tracer: ¥4,000, ¥5,500 and ¥6,500.
- In Beijing, two or more areas are charged as whole body.
- Coordinator packages: from $600 (China MedPass) and $900 (MRI in China).
PET-CT combines a PET scan, which shows where a small amount of injected radioactive tracer collects in the body, with a CT scan for anatomy. It is used mainly to stage and follow cancer, and in some heart and brain conditions. The usual tracer is FDG, a form of glucose; other tracers, such as PSMA for prostate cancer, are separate and priced differently.
PET-CT scan fee caps by city
Public hospitals, ordinary service, scan fee only. Dollars at ¥6.7162 to $1 (26 October 2026).
| Exam | Beijing | Shanghai | Shenzhen | Guangzhou |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET-CT, one area per exam, scan fee only | ¥2,500 about $372 | ¥2,500 about $372 | ¥2,500 about $372 | ¥2,500 about $372 |
| PET-CT, torso per exam, scan fee only | ¥4,000 about $596 | ¥4,000 about $596 | ¥4,000 about $596 | ¥4,000 about $596 |
| PET-CT, whole body per exam, scan fee only | ¥5,000 about $744 | ¥5,000 about $744 | ¥5,000 about $744 | ¥5,000 about $744 |
Shanghai's all-in PET-CT caps
| Exam | Including tracer | About |
|---|---|---|
| One area | ¥4,000 | $596 |
| Torso | ¥5,500 | $819 |
| Whole body | ¥6,500 | $968 |
From the Shanghai 2025 schedule. Shanghai is the only city of the four where we found a published price that includes the tracer, so it is the best guide to the full price of an ordinary FDG PET-CT.
What else you pay
- The tracer, except under Shanghai's all-in caps. Outside Shanghai, ask for the tracer price before you book.
- The consultation at which a doctor orders the scan; see how a scan is ordered in China.
- International departments and private hospitals set their own prices above these caps.
Beijing and Shanghai basic medical insurance do not pay for PET-CT, so even local residents pay the full price there. A foreign visitor pays out of pocket in any case.
Before a PET-CT
- RadiologyInfo advises fasting for several hours before the scan and drinking only water; people with diabetes get special instructions.
- After the injection you wait about an hour while the tracer is absorbed, so plan for a long appointment.
- Tell staff if you are or may be pregnant.
General information summarised from RadiologyInfo.org, not medical advice. A PET-CT is usually part of a cancer care plan; discuss with your own doctor whether a scan abroad fits that plan. See the medical disclaimer.
Related: CT scan cost in China, the full price table, bringing images home and the China MRI cost overview.
PET-CT cost in China: common questions
How much is a PET-CT scan in China?
The scan fee at a public hospital is capped at ¥2,500 for one area, ¥4,000 for the torso and ¥5,000 for the whole body in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. The radioactive tracer is charged on top, except under Shanghai’s all-in caps of ¥4,000, ¥5,500 and ¥6,500.
Does Chinese insurance pay for PET-CT?
Beijing and Shanghai basic medical insurance do not pay for PET-CT under their 2025 schedules. Foreign visitors pay out of pocket in any case.
How much is a PSMA PET-CT in China?
We have not found an official or published price for PSMA PET-CT, so we do not quote one. The tracer is different from the standard FDG tracer and is priced separately. Ask the hospital in writing.
Do I need to fast before a PET-CT?
Usually yes, for several hours, drinking only water, and people with diabetes get special instructions. Follow the hospital’s own instructions.
Sources
- Notice on standardising, adjusting and adding medical service price items, Jing Yi Bao Fa [2025] No. 13 (京医保发〔2025〕13号), Annex 3: radiology examinations (in Chinese). Beijing Municipal Healthcare Security Administration and Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, 17 June 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Notice on standardising and adjusting radiology examination price items in Shanghai, Hu Yi Bao Jia Cai Fa [2025] No. 11 (沪医保价采发〔2025〕11号) (in Chinese). Shanghai Municipal Healthcare Security Administration and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, 16 April 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Shenzhen forwarding of the Guangdong notice on radiology examination price items, Shen Yi Bao Fa [2025] No. 8 (深医保发〔2025〕8号), Annex 2 (in Chinese). Shenzhen Healthcare Security Administration, 27 April 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Guangzhou forwarding of the Guangdong notices on radiology and other price items, Sui Yi Bao Fa [2025] No. 12 (穗医保发〔2025〕12号), Annex 3 (in Chinese). Guangzhou Healthcare Security Administration, 25 April 2025. Read 26 October 2026.
- Costs. China MedPass (chinamedpass.com), a coordination service. Read 26 October 2026.
- Pricing. MRI in China (mriinchina.com), a coordination service. Read 26 October 2026.
- PET/CT. RadiologyInfo.org (American College of Radiology and RSNA), 15 June 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
- RMB central parity rates, 26 October 2026 (USD/CNY 6.7162). China Foreign Exchange Trade System (chinamoney.com.cn), 26 October 2026. Read 26 October 2026.