News
New PET/CT Scanner Services Offered at Health Center
Doctors at the Boone County Health Center have a new diagnostic imaging system called a PET/CT scanner, which allows for a patient’s anatomy, as well as organ function to be examined in a single exam. Specifically, the PET/CT scanner aids in accurate tumor detection and localization for a variety of cancers, including melanoma, lymphoma, lung, colorectal, head and neck and ovarian cancers. Other uses for the unit include cardiac imaging to show blood flow to the heart and the condition of the heart tissue after a heart attack, and in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Use of the unit can also result in improvement in therapy planning and aiding in assessing a patient’s response to chemotherapy and radiation.
The PET/CT scanner, which is also called a biograph® performs both the PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) scan at the same time. As a patient undergoes the test, detailed information obtained from the CT scan is merged with the biological function recorded by the PET scanner resulting in an image that records living tissues and processes. The benefits to the patients are an earlier diagnosis, accurate viewing of a tumor’s location, and more precise treatment. A biograph® image also provides early detection of the recurrence of cancer, revealing tumors that may otherwise by obscured by the scarring that results from surgery and radiation therapy, particularly in the head and neck.
The entire PET/CT examination is generally performed in less than one hour. The system is designed to be accessible to all patients and is relatively comfortable. The mobile unit similar to the outside MRI unit at the hospital can be scheduled on-demand for patient testing. Currently, the scanner is at the Health Center on a monthly basis and testing is scheduled through a patient’s primary care provider.