Discovery™ PET/CT 600 Scanner
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The Discovery™ PET/CT 600 scanner, manufactured by GE Healthcare, combines positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) imaging technology with a motion-management platform to detect small cancer tumors in areas of the body subject to movement. This powerful machine allows our physicians to diagnose and stage tumors earlier, with improved accuracy so we can develop a more precise treatment plan.
A PET scan identifies areas of abnormal metabolic activity in the body, which may reveal cancerous cells before any tumors or structural changes are present. A CT scan is an X-ray procedure that uses a computer to generate three-dimensional, cross-sectional images of the body. By blending these two images into one image during a single exam, our physicians can identify abnormal activity and know precisely where this activity is taking place in order to make appropriate diagnostic and treatment decisions.
Combining the two scans in a single machine provides a greater level of accuracy and shortens patient treatment times. Rather than asking patients to sit through scans on different machines, and attempting to match up the images, PET/CT technology provides both scans in a single session. As a result, image accuracy is improved because patient movement from one machine to another is minimized, and patient treatment times are shorter.
The Discovery™ also offers advanced motion management capabilities. Typically, motion in a patient’s body as a result of breathing, heart beat and other involuntary movement can blur a PET/CT scan, reducing image quality and making it difficult to detect small tumors. The Discovery™’s MotionFree platform moves with the patient and can detect lesions as small as 2.0 millimeters. As a result, the Discovery™ is especially valuable for cancers in or near tissues affected by movement, such as breast, lung, colon, renal and prostate cancers.
Before the scan, a small amount of radioactive glucose is injected into the body. The radiation dose is low enough that it is not dangerous to the patient. As the glucose moves through the body, it accumulates in areas with higher levels of metabolic activity, such as cancer cells. Energy from the glucose is detected and creates a 3D, full-color image. Depending on the color, a PET scan will provide information about cancerous tissues that can be used in conjunction with a CT scan to make a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
The Discovery™ also features advanced software to help our doctors track a patient’s treatment response, and monitor tumors with greater accuracy and precision over time.
In April 2009, Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma became the third hospital in the world and the first hospital in the nation to offer the Discovery™.
