PET / CT

February 14, 2007

Sky Lakes Medical Center Introduces New Advanced Imaging Technology

Sky Lakes Medical Center (formerly Merle West Medical Center) has now made available the latest, most advanced whole-body imaging technology with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), significantly enhancing their diagnostic services offered.  PET/CT is an invaluable clinical test for cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders.   

PET/CT is an imaging procedure that generates pictures of the precise location and extent of disease.  PET/CT enables physicians to detect abnormal cell growth and activity. This information aids in the early detection and improved treatment of many diseases, allowing enhanced capabilities in pre-surgical staging, elimination of invasive procedures, enhanced therapy monitoring capabilities, and a reduction in the number of diagnostic tests performed.

In oncology, PET/CT is the only modality that can accurately image many organs at one time to diagnose malignancy, even provide information about whether or not cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

In addition to cancer studies, PET/CT examines patients for myocardial infarctions and looks for reversible damage as opposed to permanent heart damage.  PET/CT is also used in neurological studies, investigating brain metabolism in patients with dementia and epilepsy.