New imaging technology that combines the power of CAT scans with the finesse of a PET scan can catch cancer and other diseases earlier, potentially boosting survival rates and cutting costs, researchers said on Wednesday.
The two types of scan are commonly used separately but the team at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrated a new way to combine them.
The CAT, or computer assisted tomography, scan uses a special barrage of X-rays to see through tissue while the PET, or positron emission tomography, scan can detect the kinds of metabolic changes associated with tumour growth.
University of Pennsylvania doctors on Wednesday unveiled the new imaging technology, which they called “time of flight” technology. “We can use this PET/CAT to check for early indications of cancer or to see if the cancer has spread,” said Dr Laurie Loevner, a neuroradiologist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
“We can also look to see if a particular therapy has been successful in treating the cancer.” The technology is particularly valuable for obese patients — a growing sector of the population — whose body size makes detection and diagnosis of tumours difficult.
“We can also look to see if a particular therapy has been successful in treating the cancer.” The technology is particularly valuable for obese patients — a growing sector of the population — whose body size makes detection and diagnosis of tumours difficult.
Although mostly used with cancer patients, it also has applications in the fields of cardiology and neurology, doctors said.
The technology has been in experimental use at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania since November 2005, and began clinical use in June this year.
The doctors said that the technology has the potential to reduce medical costs by eliminating the need for exploratory surgery or other unnecessary treatments.