December 7, 2000

MEDICAL CENTER TO UPGRADE ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND ACTIVE POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY SERVICES IN NEW JERSEY

Over the past year Hackensack University Medical Center has had extensive experience with F-18 flourdeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging. The medical center has performed more than 400 scans, which are technologically advanced and precise procedures, used primarily for cancer detection.

Recent changes in New Jersey regulations now permit the purchase and utilization of dedicated PET scanners. In keeping with its mission to provide high quality healthcare to the community it serves, the medical center is upgrading its present positron imaging (cancer detection) program from a "hybrid" imaging device (MCD/AC) to a state-of-the-art, fully-dedicated PET scanner.

"PET scanning is quite unique and exciting because it measures the metabolism of a simple sugar, called glucose, throughout the body," said Harry Agress, Jr., M.D., director, Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology at Hackensack University Medical Center. "The vast majority of cancer cells have a higher metabolism than normal tissue, meaning that they utilize glucose at a much higher rate. This new technology images this increased activity and creates a picture of true living human metabolism. This enables physicians to determine if an abnormal structure is malignant [cancerous] or benign."

In cancer patients traditional diagnostic exams such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide valuable detailed anatomy of biological structures. However, it is frequently difficult to determine if a mass or prominent lymph node is benign or malignant based on size alone. PET scanning can determine if lesions are cancerous. An earlier and more precise cancer diagnosis gives the institution a more immediate and effective treatment protocol for the patient.

In addition, cancer patients can have the emotional benefit of knowing that a normal PET scan indicates that the disease is not active. This is especially true when CT scans demonstrate an indeterminate mass. Which may either represent a tumor or simply benign fibrous tissue.

One hour prior to the procedure, patients are injected with a small amount of radioactive tracer, FDG. The patient then lie down on a table, while a scanner similar to a CT or MRI scanner collects data to form a three-dimensional view of the entire body, or the portion that is most likely to have cancer. The data is gathered on a state-of-the-art computer system that provides physicians with a detailed view of the scanned area where the FDG tracer appears as a bright spot against the darker background of healthy tissue.

"In addition to detecting the presence of cancer in a suspicious area such as a lung nodule, PET scanning can identify additional lesions that may have metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body," said Dr. Agress.

Armed with this new knowledge, physicians can also make more accurate evaluations of the effectiveness of cancer management techniques. The PET scan can confirm that therapy modification is necessary to provide the best possible treatment. The precision of the technique can also increase the effectiveness of other diagnostic tools. For example, PET scanning can determine if abnormalities on CT or MRI represent post-radiation scarring or recurrent tumor and in some cases can allow more accurate biopsies by pinpointing the area of most active metabolism.

PET scanning is most effective in identifying and staging lung cancer, recurrent colon carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma, and head and neck tumors. Although it is used primarily in oncology, the procedure is also utilized to evaluate viable (potentially recovered) cardiac tissue in patients who have suffered heart attacks, as well as to evaluate Alzheimer's disease and seizure disorders.

For more information about PET scanning at Hackensack University Medical Center call (201) 996-3007.

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