This press release contains dated information and should be used for background only.
The University of Kansas Hospital has begun operating its own medical cyclotron, a particle accelerating device that allows the hospital to produce its own radiopharmaceuticals for patients undergoing a PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography) scan. A PET/CT scan is a whole body imaging technique that allows doctors to view a patient’s internal organs at the cellular level. The University of Kansas Hospital cyclotron is the first in the Kansas City metropolitan region and the entire state of Kansas.
"The addition of this cyclotron will be a tremendous benefit to our patients." Said Jay Spicer, director of radiopharmacy at The University of Kansas Hospital. "This means we’ll be able to manufacture the isotopes needed for a PET/CT scan in-house rather than purchase them from an out of town supplier. It will give us greater flexibility and allow us to schedule more patients in a day for these potentially life-saving procedures."
The University of Kansas Hospital began offering PET/CT scans in June of 1999. Before the cyclotron, The University of Kansas Hospital had to order a whole day’s supply of the isotopes in advance, and take into account the four-hour drive for delivery. That meant calculating very strong doses for the isotopes to be used later in the day since they could lose up to half of their strength from the time of manufacture early in the morning. Doses can now be made at The University of Kansas Hospital on an as needed basis.
In addition, there are certain tests that could not be performed in the metropolitan area (or in the state of Kansas) before because the half-life of the isotope involved was so short. A myocardial perfusion scan to determine blood flow to the heart muscle must be administered within ten minutes of creating the isotope. New studies are being conducted on 11-Carbon for prostate cancer imaging, which must be administered within 20 minutes. By having the cyclotron on site, The University of Kansas Hospital will be able to offer these services as these new radiopharmaceuticals are being developed.
Cancer and heart patients are the primary beneficiaries of PET/CT scanning. Some neurology patients may also be helped by PET/CT scanning. Because it provides a view of the body’s metabolic activity rather than simply a measure of the internal body form, PET/CT is much more accurate in determining how far cancer has spread than any other diagnostic technique. PET/CT scans also detect heart problems most traditional techniques such as computerized tomography scanning (CT) may miss. This technology allows for earlier detection of the disease and assists physicians in providing more appropriate treatment plans.