Imaging technology that both measures how quickly a tumor is growing and pinpoints its exact location will be introduced to residents of Yavapai County this spring at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) East.
“This is the most advanced imaging technology of its kind available,” said YRMC’s Director of Imaging Services Mary Sterling.
The “Time-of-Flight” (TOF) technology, as it’s called, combines Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) in a single imaging unit. The job of the PET scan is to detect molecular activity within the body for diagnosis of cancer and other diseases. The CT scan precisely locates the cancer.
A remodeled area adjacent to Imaging Services on the first floor of YRMC East in Prescott Valley will house the new PET/CT unit. It will include a room with comfortable chairs and blankets, where patients can relax before exams.
“PET is a nuclear medicine procedure,” said Sterling. “This means patients receive a small amount of radiation called a radioisotope before exams. They need a comfortable place to relax for an hour before the procedure. This helps us to get the best scan possible.”
During its first year at YRMC East, the PET-CT technology will be used to:
- Diagnose and stage all types of cancers.
- Prepare for radiation therapy by precisely mapping tumor boundaries to avoid radiation in adjacent normal tissue.
- Monitor treatment progress in patients who have undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
To learn more about YRMC’s comprehensive imaging program, visit Imaging Services (yrmc.org/services/imaging-services), The BreastCare Center at YRMC (yrmc.org/services/breastcare-center), Prescott Medical Imaging and Prescott Valley Medical Imaging (hometownradiology.org). QCBN
By bridget o’Gara
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