Saint John Regional Hospital to Get First PET/CT Scanner in Atlantic Canada

by Michael Johns, Project Manager | June 13, 2006

First PET/CT Scanner for Atlantic Canada

PET/CT will change conventional cancer care in four out of ten cases and will help save more lives, however Dr. John Whelan, Clinical Department Head of Diagnostic Imaging at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, indicated that the "technology is not only invaluable in cancer diagnosis. The technology has applications in cardiology, psychiatry and neurology, as well as in the diagnosis of dementias." PET/CT images can help physicians determine the most appropriate treatments for cardiac patients by identifying healthy heart tissue and helping determine the likelihood of restoring damaged heart tissue. In terms of the brain, whether identifying regions responsible for seizure or evaluating the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's, PET/CT imaging is significantly impacting care and treatment.

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The stories of success using this technology are abundant. The PET/CT technology had a drastic impact on the treatment of a young 14 year old from Montreal who was diagnosed with an osteo-sarcoma tumour in his femur. Physicians originally recommended conventional treatment - shrinkage of the tumour with chemotherapy followed by amputation of the leg. However, the young man's pre-op workout to determine if the cancer had metastasized to other organs revealed a very surprising result. His PET/CT scan showed no evidence of tumour activity at the primary site - his leg was spared and two years later, the young man remains cancer free.

The PET/CT technology is another addition to Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation's commitment to innovation, leadership and the provision of the best possible care and service to patients. The technology is scheduled to be available in September 2006. For information on making a donation to the PET/CT Challenge, please contact the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation at 506-648-6400.

Erin Barnes, B.Comm. is Communications Officer at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation.

Saint John Regional Hospital is part of the Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation. For more information please go to their website: Saint John Regional Hospital

This article is reposted with thanks to Hospital News.

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