PET imaging center opens

THE top hospital in the country, Makati Medical Center has opened its PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Imaging Center, signaling a key development in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of diseases, especially cancer—one of the top causes of death among Filipinos.

The center, led by an internationally trained nuclear medicine and radiology staff, is equipped with the Discovery Molecular Imaging 128 Slice Time-of-flight (TOF) PET/CT System, a scanner that combines PET and CT scan images providing fast and accurate imaging that helps reduce a patient’s radiation exposure.

PET is an advanced imaging test where a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein of a patient. The machine then detects and records radiation emitted from the body and more specifically from the organ being examined. A detailed fused image will be reconstructed using the information from the PET scanner and the attached computerized tomography (CT) scanner, allowing doctors to have a better understanding of what is happening inside a patient’s body.

In cancer PET imaging, to be specific, the scan uses a radioactive form of sugar, also called tracer, as some cancer cells use glucose faster than normal cells. With this process, the PET scan can help identify cancer cells and guide biopsies and surgeries. It also helps determine the location and spread of the cancer, the recurrence of cancer, and the effectiveness of the cancer treatment.

When getting a PET scan, it is recommended that patients bring their records so as to tailor the process to their needs. “We also advise patients to refrain from any strenuous activities before the scan,” says Marie Rhiamar Sauler-gomez, MD of Makatimed’s PET Imaging Center. “It would also be best if they maintain a diet high in protein and low to no carbohydrates. A couple of hours before their appointment, they shouldn’t consume anything but water.”

More information is available via Petimagingcenter@makatimed.net.ph.