Holy Name's combination Discovery LS PET/CT scanning system provides state-of-the-art images to diagnose, stage, treat, and monitor cancer. This revolutionary technology combines the capabilities of positron emission tomography (PET), which reveals the biochemical processes under way in an organ, with computed tomography (CT), which displays the anatomical structure. PET/CT scanning helps physicians assess tumors of the brain, lung, colon, breast, head and neck, esophagus, and melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers. In addition, PET/CT is used to evaluate neurological and cardiovascular disorders.
Brain PET Imaging
In March 2007, the PET/CT Center at Holy Name Hospital, a recognized industry leader in Oncology & Cardiac PET/CT expanded its PET services to include FDG-Brain PET. Currently, MRI & CT scans render exquisite detail about the structure of the brain. However, FDG-Brain PET can detect functional abnormalities of the brain that would otherwise go undetected by conventional imaging.
A PET scan of the brain can offer the following benefits:
- Tumors at Diagnosis
- Determine if tumor is malignant or benign
- Determine the degree of malignancy
- provide guidance for biopsy
- Assess prognosis
Tumors after Therapy
- Assess tumor persistence after surgery
- Monitor the response to therapy
- Differentiate recurrence from necrosis
Some additional benefits of FDG-Brain PET include:
- Differentiates between Alzheimer’s disease, depression, dementia or other
- neurological disorder
- Localizes site of seizure occurrence in the brain Assesses whether muscle tremors are associated with Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders
- Determines if brain tumors are malignant or benign
- Used by neurosurgeons to map the brain areas responsible for movement, speech and other functions
Oncology PET Imaging
Approximately 1,372,910 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2005. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 570,280 Americans are expected to die of cancer this year, more than 1560 per day.
Whole body PET/CT scanning vastly improves identification and staging of tumors with pinpoint determination of location. And by targeting a tumor so precisely, it allows the greatest dose of radiation possible to the smallest volume of tissue. It may also make some biopsies and surgeries unnecessary.
Integrated PET/CT provides accurate tumor detection and localization for a variety of cancers, including:
- Brain
- Breast
- Cervical
- Colorectal
- Esophageal
- Gastric
- Head and Neck
- Lung
- Lymphoma
- Melanoma
- Ovarian
- Pancreatic
- Renal
The PET/CT system assists radiation oncologists at The Regional Cancer Center in treating cancerous tumors more precisely because it works with the hospital’s GE Varian treatment planning and delivery system. Not only does the PET/CT scanning system provide increased accuracy but it also helps determine in mid-course whether treatment is working. If not, treatment can be revised halfway through the course of therapy, thus increasing the patient’s chances for treatment success and improving quality of life.
Cardiac PET/CT Imaging
Heart Disease is the leading killer of Americans today, and a heart attack is the most visible sign of heart disease. More specifically, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for individuals aged 65 and older, and of American Women.
In April 2006, Holy Name Hospital became the first and only hospital in New Jersey to expand its PET services to include Cardiac PET/CT stress testing. Holy Name is one of the elite few hospitals in the world to offer this exciting new technology. Cardiac PET/CT stress testing provides improved accuracy in patients unable to exercise on a treadmill or whose physical characteristics would produce a suboptimal result with prior methods of nuclear stress testing. In addition to lower radiation exposure than current nuclear stress testing, patients will benefit from siginificantly reduced testing time.
Holy Name will use Cardiac PET/CT stress testing to identify patients at high risk for coronary artery disease and those who would benefit from intervention such as cardiac catheterization, angioplasty or surgery.
Cardiac PET/CT scanning is one of the most accurate diagnostic tests for the detection of coronary artery disease and assessment of blood flow to the heart. It is also the gold standard for determining viability of heart tissue for revascularization. Cardiac PET/CT stress testing is used by physicians to determine the best course of treatment for their patients.
Women & Heart Disease
Each year, more than 225,000 women die from coronary heart disease, almost six times the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. Detection of coronary heart disease is often difficult to detect in women due to their physical characteristics and the inability to accurately diagnose pre-test symptoms. Women show fewer true positive scans than men who undergo current nuclear stress testing. Coronary heart disease such as ischemia is often overlooked in women. The diagnostic accuracy of Cardiac PET is significantly higher in women when compared to current nuclear stress testing.
(4D) PET/CT Respiratory Gating
In 2004, Holy Name Hospital solidified its role as a leader in PET research with the introduction of (4D) PET/CT respiratory gating treatment planning. It is one of a handful of hospitals in the world to offer cancer patients the benefits of this revolutionary radiation treatment option.
The PET/CT team at Holy Name utilizes (4D) PET/CT and IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) to treat patients with significant tumor movement. The simple act of breathing significantly impacts the way lung cancers and upper abdominal malignancies are treated. As the lungs expand and contract while inhaling and exhaling, lung tumors move and, even change shape, making precise targeting of radiation beams difficult.
How Respiratory Gating Works
With the radiation beam is activated in synchronization with a patient's respiratory pattern, it targets the tumor only when it is in the optimal position and prevents the radiation beam from hitting healthy tissues. Using the data from (4D) PET/CT respiratory gating, Holy Name physicians are able to treat these individuals with potentially effective radiation doses, minimizing the chances of damaging vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, spine and kidneys. Holy Name was the first hospital anywhere to practice combined respiratory-gated PET/CT on individuals with lung cancer, tumors on or near the heart; and gastric, pancreatic and hepatic tumors.
The PET/CT Center at Holy Name Hospital is a participant in the National Oncologic PET Registry. In addition, the PET/CT Center is the only facility in the State of New Jersey that has achieved accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR) in Brain, Oncology and Perfusion Cardiac PET, and is an educational affiliate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).
Contact Information and Scheduling
PET/CT Center
Holy Name Hospital
201-833-3100