Nghe An Oncology Hospital puts into use the most advanced SPECT/CT system today
(Baonghean.vn) - Using the SPECT/CT system, with one scan, doctors can accurately detect signs of cancer lesions or evaluate the progress of treatment.
In order to improve diagnostic and treatment capacity in the field of oncology - Nuclear Medicine, on the morning of January 26, Nghe An Oncology Hospital officially put into use the most advanced SPECT/CT imaging system today.
This is a 2-in-1 device system, combining a gamma ray computed tomography (SPECT) scanner and a computed tomography (CT) scanner.
Dr. Pham Vinh Hung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Oncology Hospital said: Nghe An Oncology Hospital is the first hospital in the North Central region to own a SPECT/CT machine. This is a very modern device, integrating a radiography machine with a CT machine. The advantage of the device is that it helps detect early cancer lesions and signs of metastasis, and also supports cancer monitoring and treatment.
In the past, to detect and treat cancer, patients had to undergo many techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans like SPECT scans, and in some cases even PET scans to accurately detect cancer lesions or metastases, but with this device, doctors only need to perform one scan and have enough information to accurately diagnose the condition. "In particular, with this device, many patients will not have to be transferred to the Central line like before," Dr. Hung added.
Master, Doctor CKII Nguyen Ngoc Thang - Head of Nuclear Medicine Department, Oncology Hospital - where this technique is performed, said: This machine can take all 3 techniques: SPECT, CT and SPECT/CT.
Before taking a scintigraphy, the patient will usually be injected into the bloodstream with a radioactive mixture (99mTc) attached to a pharmaceutical substance (specific to each organ to be examined).
The scan time will be from 20 minutes to 45 minutes, or longer depending on the complexity of the lesion (sometimes multiple scans may be required and the waiting time will be longer).
After the scan, the patient may be kept for a short time or may be discharged immediately. After image processing, the results will show the lesions on the body in the form of anatomical and functional images.
This device allows for 33 techniques, including some indications such as: Whole-body bone scintigraphy to find metastatic lesions and assess the progression of cancer metastasis during the course of the disease. Whole-body scintigraphy with 131 Iod: After thyroidectomy; Before deciding on 131 Iod treatment and after 131 Iod treatment; Monitoring treatment response in differentiated thyroid cancer. Sentinel lymph node scintigraphy (in early-stage breast cancer, melanoma and some other cancers in the head, face and neck...) to help assess the stage and plan treatment. The device can help diagnose in detail: thyroid diseases (including: hyperthyroidism, toxic goiter, goiter, thyroid cancer...); Detecting adrenal medullary tumors, neuroblastoma, parathyroid gland (parathyroid); Support diagnosis of cases of bone and joint pain, suspected osteomyelitis where other means cannot clearly determine the cause.
"The cost of the machine's imaging techniques is almost covered by health insurance, so it will greatly support cancer patients in examination, detection and treatment," added Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Thang.
Putting into use the SPECT/CT machine is a big step forward for Nghe An Oncology Hospital to become the final-level hospital specializing in oncology in the North Central region, becoming one of the key and typical medical infrastructure projects of the regional and national health sector, meeting the needs and satisfaction of patients./.
