ABOVE: The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Key, with Ascot Radiology's Managing Partner, Dr David Rogers.
PET CT arrives at Ascot Radiology
22nd June 2011 2:31PM
Ascot Radiology announces the clinical and official openings of its new PET CT Centre.
The Ascot PET CT Centre opened for patients on the 4th April 2011 and is equipped with the latest in PET CTtechnology; the state-of-the-art Discovery 600 scanner from GE. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. John Key, officially opened the Centre on the 19th April.
PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. Imaging is based on emissions from special isotopes that are used to highlight cancers. The combination of PET with CT (Computed Tomography) produces a highly sensitive imaging device capable of detecting early stages of disease often undetectable by CT alone or by other imaging techniques such as MRI.
When disease is present, the biochemistry of the cells and tissues changes. In cancer for example, cells begin to grow at a much faster rate. A PET CT scan begins with an injection of a radioactive glucose-based pharmaceutical, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) that is manufactured at the Wellington Cyclotron. The FDG is taken up by tissues that have an increased metabolic activity, such as an area of rapidly growing cells.
Ascot Radiology has the latest in PET scanning with some cutting edge technologies. The CT scanning component includes new technology that reduces the radiation dose from a PET CT scan to the same level as a conventional CT scan. This is important, especially when patients will need multiple examinations.
In addition, technology such as Time of Flight imaging, and respiratory gating will achieve unsurpassed image quality available within this country. Movement reduction is achieved with the gating technique, aiding visualisation of abnormalities adjacent the heart or diaphragm. Overall, smaller tumours can be identified and the fight against cancer is helped significantly.
Official opening photographs from top right: Ascot's GE Discovery 600 PET CT scanner & control room, The Prime Minister with Dr David Rogers and Pacific Radiology's Dr Trevor FitzJohn, and Dr David Rogers with Alan Clarke and Alison Paterson from Abano Healthcare Group.
