Why an individual hospital estimate comes first
For international self-paying patients, a useful German quotation is normally prepared after the medical records have been reviewed and the responsible clinical team has defined the expected treatment. The estimate may require advance payment and can later change if the actual treatment episode differs from the original plan.
- Medical-record review
- Defined treatment plan
- Written cost estimate
- Advance payment when required
- Additional services if the clinical course changes
- Final invoice after treatment
The tracer and imaging protocol are part of the service
Ulm routinely produces Ga-68 DOTA-i-TATE for clinical PET/CT, while Heidelberg publishes Ga-68 DOTATOC somatostatin-receptor imaging. A quotation should therefore identify the actual radiopharmaceutical and imaging protocol rather than describe the visit only as a generic PET scan.
What can change the diagnostic quotation
The scan can sit inside a broader neuroendocrine-tumor assessment.
- Nuclear-medicine or NET specialist consultation
- Ga-68 DOTATATE, DOTATOC or center-specific somatostatin-receptor tracer
- PET/CT acquisition and interpretation
- Diagnostic CT with contrast when clinically required
- Additional MRI, CT or laboratory work requested for the same treatment decision
- Pathology or previous imaging review
- Multidisciplinary NET or tumor-board review
- PRRT eligibility assessment when that is the clinical question
- Copies or transfer of reports and original DICOM images
A PET/CT quote and a PRRT quote are different
A receptor PET/CT can be used to assess whether a neuroendocrine tumor expresses the target needed for PRRT, but the imaging appointment is not the radionuclide treatment itself. If PRRT is being considered, ask for the diagnostic estimate and the possible treatment estimate as separate financial stages until treatment eligibility is confirmed.
Ask whether contrast CT is included
PET/CT can combine functional molecular imaging with CT, but the CT component can vary. Confirm whether the planned protocol includes a diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT, whether kidney or thyroid laboratory tests are needed and whether those services are included in the quotation.
Travel should follow a defined clinical question
Before paying for an isolated scan abroad, clarify who requested the study, how the result will change treatment and whether the receiving NET team needs previous CT/MRI or pathology in advance. This reduces the risk of paying for imaging that must later be repeated or supplemented.
Official sources
Last source-reviewed 2026-08-30. Cost procedures and published service fees can change, so confirm current terms directly with the provider before transferring money or booking travel.
- PET/CT diagnostics – Ga-68 DOTA-i-TATE — Ulm University Hospital ↗
- Radiopharmacy – Ga-68 DOTA-i-TATE production — Ulm University Hospital ↗
- International patients – individualized treatment estimate and payment pathway — Ulm University Hospital ↗
- Somatostatin receptors – Ga-68 DOTATOC diagnostics — Heidelberg University Hospital ↗