Why one NET price would be misleading
NCT Heidelberg describes neuroendocrine neoplasms as a heterogeneous group in which treatment depends on tumor type, grade, Ki-67, primary site, disease extent, symptoms, hormonal activity and the patient's overall condition. The financial pathway changes with the clinical pathway, so the cost of a consultation or receptor PET/CT cannot be used as a proxy for the cost of surgery, systemic therapy or PRRT.
The treatment plan can contain very different cost components
A useful estimate should reflect the actual combination of services expected for the individual case.
- Pathology review, grading and Ki-67 assessment
- Specialist oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology or surgery review
- CT, MRI and somatostatin-receptor PET/CT when clinically indicated
- Multidisciplinary NET tumor-board review
- Surgery for the primary tumor or selected metastases
- Somatostatin analogues and other systemic medication
- Liver-directed procedures such as embolization or ablation in selected cases
- PRRT when receptor expression and the broader clinical criteria support it
- Laboratory monitoring and response imaging
- Inpatient care, complications and follow-up when required
NET and NEC should not be budgeted as the same disease
NCT Heidelberg explains that well-differentiated NETs and neuroendocrine carcinomas can follow substantially different treatment strategies. A quotation based only on the phrase 'neuroendocrine tumor' is therefore incomplete if the pathology, grade and disease status have not been reviewed.
Molecular imaging and PRRT are separate financial stages
Somatostatin-receptor PET/CT may be used to characterize receptor expression and can be important before PRRT, but the diagnostic scan and radionuclide treatment are distinct services. If PRRT is under consideration, ask for the imaging estimate and the possible treatment estimate separately until eligibility and the proposed number of treatment cycles are confirmed.
How German self-pay estimates are prepared
Ulm University Hospital states that international self-pay enquiries are assessed individually from comprehensive medical findings in order to prepare a realistic calculation. Its inpatient calculations are based on the German DRG system, advance payment is required before treatment scheduling and additional treatment can lead to an additional advance invoice.
Questions to ask before transferring money
Ask the international patient office to define the assumed treatment episode in writing.
- Which diagnosis, grade and stage does the estimate assume?
- Does it include pathology review and additional molecular testing?
- Which imaging studies are included and which may be added later?
- Is a tumor-board discussion included?
- Are medicines, radiopharmaceuticals or high-cost disposables included?
- If surgery is planned, what inpatient stay and postoperative care are assumed?
- If PRRT is being considered, how many cycles does the estimate assume?
- How are additional hospital days or complications billed?
- What happens to unused advance payment after the final invoice?
Budget separately for repeated travel and follow-up
Some NET pathways require repeated imaging, medication visits, surgery follow-up or multiple PRRT visits. International patients should ask which laboratory checks and imaging can be performed in the home country, how long they need to remain near the German center and which travel, accommodation or companion costs fall outside the hospital invoice.
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.
- Neuroendocrine tumors – treatment options and multidisciplinary tumor board — National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg ↗
- NCT Heidelberg treatment and individualized treatment planning — National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg ↗
- International patients – cost estimate, advance invoice and final invoice — Ulm University Hospital ↗