The costs of PET/CT systems, which are often used for determining the stages of cancer and monitoring cancer treatment, can range from $1 million to $2.7 million, said Kevin Lee, senior analyst for the healthcare technology advisory service at the ECRI Institute, which is based in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Budget-friendly models tend to cost between $1 million and $1.7 million, with the higher-end models costing at least $2 million.
“It's a short-term difference,” Lee said. “Next month, it could be the exact opposite.”
Scott DiDonato, an associate in ECRI's Applied Solutions Group, said that community hospitals are more likely to purchase the budget-friendly models. Providers that conduct research may be more interested in purchasing higher-end models, such as the 64-slice scanners or the 128-slice systems.
The average cost of PET/CT systems fell about 21% over the past 12 months.
Follow Jaimy Lee on Twitter: @MHjlee