Florida Hospital Flagler’s PET-CT Is Unique to Florida

April 21, 2011 - PRLog -- PALM COAST – Florida Hospital Flagler is now equipped with a PET-CT more advanced than any other facility in the state. The advanced capabilities include:

• Optimized system design: The highest image-sensitivity in the industry, enabling detection of disease at an earlier stage, potentially lowering the dose requirements and providing faster patient exams
• Motion Match: Phase-matched 4D PET and CT-fused images improve the quality of scans in areas prone to motion, which can blur results, such as in the lungs.
• Patient-Friendly Design: This PET-CT features a comfortable bed for patients up to 500 lbs., limiting the effects of claustrophobia.  
                       
“This type of PET-CT benefits the patients because it combines the ability of not only the PET-CT, but also the ability to plan the patients’ radiation therapy in the same machine,” said Radiation Oncologist Alvaro Alvarez, MD. “It allows patients the luxury of only needing one scan, as opposed to having three separate scans and then needing to fuse the scans together.”

With a Positron Emission Tomography CT (PET-CT) scan, doctors can better determine whether a mass is malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous).  

Prior to an exam, a mildly radioactive substance called a radiotracer is injected into the patient.  The PET-CT image helps distinguishes cancer from healthy tissue when there is an accumulation of the radiotracer in the cancerous tissue. Most radiotracers are glucose (sugar) based, and because cancerous cells and tumors absorb, accumulate and metabolize sugar faster than healthy tissue, they appear as bright spots on the scan.

“I think this sends a very strong message,” said Dr. Alvarez. “Florida Hospital Flagler is committed to Flagler County by providing first class care to the patients, especially the cancer patients.”

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Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler is a nonprofit hospital system with a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ. With five hospitals in Volusia & Flagler County, it is the largest hospital system in the area, caring for 650,000 patients annually.