The new PET CT provides the potential to help more local cancer patients
in a comfortable, supportive environment.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of nuclear medicine procedure
that measures metabolic activity of the cells of body tissues. Used mostly
in patients with brain or heart conditions and cancer, PET helps to visualize
the biochemical changes taking place in the body. Since PET is a type
of nuclear medicine procedure, this means that a tiny amount of a radioactive
substance, called a radiopharmaceutical, is used to assist in the examination.
PET is most often used by
oncologists, neurologists and neurosurgeons, and
cardiologists. Newer technology combines PET and CT into one scanner, known as PET CT.
The equipment at the
Heptner Cancer Center is a PET CT.
How does it work
PET works by using a scanning device (a machine with a large hole at its
center) to detect photons (subatomic particles) emitted by a radionuclide
in the organ or tissue being examined.
The radionuclides used in PET scans are made by attaching a radioactive
atom to chemical substances that are used naturally by the particular
organ or tissue during its metabolic process.
The radionuclide is administered into a vein through an IV. Next, the PET
scanner slowly moves over the part of the body being examined and uses
the information to create an image map of the organ or tissue being studied.
The amount of the radionuclide collected in the tissue affects how brightly
the tissue appears on the image, and indicates the level of organ or tissue function.
Why is PET performed? In general, PET scans are used to evaluate organs and/or tissues for the
presence of disease or other conditions. PET may also be used to evaluate
the function of organs, such as the heart or brain. The most common use
of PET is in the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.
More specific reasons for PET scans in cancer treatment include:
To detect the spread of cancer to other parts of the body from the original
cancer site
To evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatment
To detect recurrence of tumors earlier than with other diagnostic modalities
September 4, 2019: New PET CT is ready to go
The Heptner Cancer Center’s new PET CT is approved and ready for
patients. In general, PET scans are used to evaluate organs and/or tissues
for the presence of disease or other conditions. The most common use of
PET is in the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.
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May 16, 2019: New PET/CT Scanner installation begins!
Installation of the new PET/CT scanner began yesterday with the removal
of the old CT scanner in the Heptner Cancer Center at Campbell County
Memorial Hospital in Gillette, Wyoming.
Read more
February 15, 2019: CEO Update Winter 2019
I’m pleased to congratulate the Campbell County Healthcare Foundation
on reaching their fundraising goal for the PET/CT project.
Read more
November 14, 2018: PET/CT campaign has reached the goal!
The Campbell County Healthcare Foundation’s PET/CT capital campaign
has reached its fundraising goal of $782,500.
Read more
The new PET CT provides the potential to help more local cancer patients
in a comfortable, supportive environment.
