Health Imaging & IT - March 2008 - (Page 38)

PET/CT: A Game-changer in Cancer Patient Management MS, MHA, director of Florida Radiation Oncology Group (FROG) in Jacksonville and vice president, Integrated Community Oncology Network. The 60-physician oncology group uses Biograph duo and Biograph 6 PET/CT scanners from Siemens Medical Solutions for treatment planning, which started in 2000. The hybrid modality helps oncologists target the radiation more exactly and effectively and measure response to treatment. “For about 50 to 60 percent of patients, if you do the PET versus just CT planning alone, that alters the treatment,” says Paryani. “If you don’t do PET, you’ll have inaccurate targeting of radiation.” That rate of change is “tremendous,” he says. “That’s pretty dramatic for one test to affect that many patients.” Once treatment commences, PET/CT is “ For about 50 to 60 percent of patients, if you do the PET versus just CT planning alone, that alters the treatment. If you don’t do PET, you’ll have inaccurate targeting of radiation.” Shyam B. Paryani, MD, MS, MHA, director of Florida Radiation Oncology Group (FROG) in Jacksonville and vice president, Integrated Community Oncology Network “very useful in virtually all patients” for detecting therapy response. The major differentiator, Paryani says, is that CT cannot tell whether the cancer is still alive. “By measuring glucose uptake, we actually get a metabolic view and know whether the cancer is still alive and functioning.” great leap True V technology from Siemens lets FROG scan patients in about half the time—less than 10 minutes versus 15 to 20 minutes— with greater accuracy and improved patient comfort. Paryani says they can detect 4 millimeter nodules while previous technology detected nodules about twice that size. “This is a great leap in technology,” he says. In the future, results from the National Oncology PET Registry will help determine other types of cancer for which PET/CT is helpful. Paryani expects the results within the next year or two, but preliminary results indicate that the modality is “effective in more cancers than we think.” Although PET/CT is an expensive technology, “we think it’s the correct technology,” Paryani says. “We can’t manage care without it.” In fact, he says patients who aren’t scanned with PET/CT are “compromising their care.” Certified Radiology Equipment Specialist (CRES) For more than 25 years, CRES certification from the International Certification Commission (ICC) has been the recognized symbol of excellence for Radiology Equipment Specialists. ICC certification is becoming a requirement for employment at many healthcare facilities. By earning your CRES certification, you will demonstrate—to your employer and yourself— that you have the necessary education, experience and commitment to improve patient safety and promote public welfare. More than 6,000 of your peers already have earned an ICC certification. Don’t miss this opportunity to join them. Visit www.aami.org/HI or call 703-525-4890, ext. 207 for exam locations and more information. Application Deadline March 22, 2008 April 22, 2008 September 20, 2008 Examination Date May 3, 2008 (San Jose, CA only) June 3, 2008 November 1, 2008 38 Health Imaging & IT | March 2008 HealthImaging.com http://www.aami.org/HI http://www.aami.org/HI http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - March 2008

Health Imaging & IT - March 2008 Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise: Communicating Better News Update Critical Test Results Management: The Human Touch The Changing Face of the Cath Lab Cardiovascular CT: A Clinical Boon Cardiology PACS: Solutions to Fit Your Needs ACC 08: Building Quality & Value Together Picking the Perfect PACS Displays PET/CT: A Game-Changer in Cancer Patient Management DR: You Gotta Have IT – Delivering Speed, Efficiency, Savings Laser Imagers: Answering the Call for Hard Copy Reader's Resources Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - March 2008

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