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PET/CT Benefits
PET/CT scanning produces highly detailed images of the body's metabolic functions. As part of the process, patients are injected with a radiopharmaceutical made up of glucose. The patient is then placed into the imaging unit, which transmits signals that PET/CT changes into images.
The PET/CT scanner is highly sensitive to functional changes in the body and helps diagnose abnormalities much more accurately than any other available technology. In addition, the patient benefits from a reduction in diagnosis and treatment time - in a situation where time is of the essence.
Today, PET/CT technology is regarded as the most powerful tool to accurately image and measure the metabolic function of cancer. Once the tumor has been located, PET/CT is able to distinguish whether it is benign or malignant. Additionally, once a patient has undergone treatment, PET/CT can assess how effective the treatment has been.
PET/CT imaging can also be used to detect abnormalities in the brain, making it easier to diagnose neurological disorders. PET/CT can differentiate between Alzheimer's disease and fronto-temporal dementias. It is also used to localize seizure focus in patients with intractable complex seizure disorders. For cardiology applications, PET/CT scanning is the most accurate noninvasive test to determine the presence of coronary artery disease or the viability of the muscle.
In summary, a PET/CT scanner is an invaluable tool because it promptly identifies diseases and provides a timely, accurate diagnosis - while eliminating the need to subject the patient to a battery of testing procedures before the treatment can begin.
What does it mean for a Facility to be Accredited by the ACR?
Our four locations are currently accredited by the ACR in Oncology. The ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of its practice. Image quality and procedure evaluations are conducted by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. The program also evaluates personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs. All findings are reported to the practice via a comprehensive report that includes recommendations for improvement.
When you choose an ACR-accredited facility, you know:
- Your hospital, clinic or health center has voluntarily gone through a rigorous review process to be sure it meets nationally-accepted standards.
- The personnel are well qualified, through education and certification, to perform and interpret your medical images and administer your radiation therapy treatments.
- The equipment is appropriate for the test or treatment you will receive, and the facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines.
