Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) recently installed an advanced piece of imaging equipment that has given PMC another tool to detect and subsequently treat cancer along with other potentially life-threatening conditions. PMC’s Imaging department has recently installed a new state-of-the-art Philips Vereos Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scanner at the PMC Diagnostic Center. This new, fully digital PET scanner is already in use, providing faster and more detailed results than traditional analog scanning systems.
PET scanners are used predominantly in determining the presence and severity of cancers, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disease. PET scanners produce images of organs at work, which are used to identify those not functioning as they should. It is also the most effective way to check for cancer recurrences and identify cancer that has spread to other locations in the body.
Diagnosing cancer early, determining what stage it is and if it has spread is crucial. PET scanners are essential in accurately staging cancer and finding out if and how far it has spread.
PMC AVP of Imaging Joni Fields said the new PET scanner significantly improves the image results of patients’ scans.
“Our new PET scanner is fully digital and can provide a more accurate and detailed scan than a traditional analog system,” explained Fields. “These images are phenomenal and have the potential to save so many lives. I’m so excited to be able to provide this advanced technology to our patients.”
Another advantage of this new system is that the imaging schedule will be able to be expanded. The previous analog system allowed the PMC Diagnostic Center to scan an average of eight patients per day. The new Philips Vereos PET scanner allows that schedule to be expanded to an estimated 12 patients per day.
This new technology will allow PMC to better serve the patients in the region with faster and more accurate results, allowing for more effective cancer diagnosis and treatment.
