SMH to install area's first PET scanner

"This technology really pays off by giving us a chance to detect tumors earlier," said Vaseem Chengazi, director of nuclear medicine at the Medical Center. "PET will enable us to see a tumor as small as two millimeters in size, instead of conventional nuclear medicine imaging, which shows us tumors only if they are at least eight millimeters."

The PET process is seemingly simple, but revolutionary. Compounds, such as simple sugars, are labeled with signal-emitting tracers and injected into the patient. A scanner then records these signals as they journey throughout the body. Finally, a computer reassembles the signals into images that show the location of disease.

PET technology can tell doctors a lot about a diagnosis of cancer, information that isn't always provided by an MRI or a CT scan. Looking at one particular patient's PET scan, radiologists saw a chain of lymph node tumors in the neck, chest, and abdomen. The tumors were visible because the patient was injected with the glucose tracer. In addition, PET technology helps assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

The entire system hinges on the use of glucose. Although all cells use sugar, cells with an increased metabolism use more. Cancer cells are highly metabolic and use more sugar than neighboring cells, so they're easily seen on the PET scan.

"This new procedure complements the high-technology services available for cancer patients at our hospital," stated Arvin Robinson, chair of the Department of Radiology. "In many instances, this new service--combined with what we already offer--will maximize the opportunities for effective care at the least possible cost and inconvenience."

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