Apollo Hospitals has brought the state-of-art PET CT Scanning machine and unique Gallium 68 (G68) scans to Chennai. Gallium 68, a radioactive diagnostic agent used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group inaugurated the advanced G68 series scanning machine in the presence of Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson Apollo Hospitals Group. Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai is a holistic multidisciplinary institute that encompasses the most advanced technology with highly trained healthcare experts under one roof.
The G68 scan allows surgeons to pinpoint the precise location of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) before beginning a surgery. Each year the number of patients diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Tumors is rapidly increasing in India, these tumors are slow in growth but are likely to spread. They primarily affect abdominal and respiratory organs, including the stomach, pancreas, intestines, and lungs. The condition historically has been difficult to diagnose.
Speaking during the launch, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Executive Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Indian Council of Medical Research estimates that by 2020, India will see more than 17.3 lakh new cases of cancer and over 8.8 lakh deaths due to the disease, Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among adults in India. This is an alarming number and we could overcome this with early and precise detection. The key for effective treatment of a rare cancer like neuroendocrine tumor is, accurate diagnosis. What is required now is to increase awareness about cancer. It is important to encourage people to undergo regular health checks, while motivating them to lead a healthy lifestyle. More and more women and men should be given access to adequate cancer treatment and services.”
Dr. Reddy added, “Apollo Cancer Centre is dedicated to fight the threat of cancer in India. Now, the advanced Gallium 68 at Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai, will enable faster and accurate stereotactic detection of tumors. This technology needs shorter examination time to pinpoint the precise location of tumors in Oncology; Non-Oncological FDG applications include Neurology, Cardiology and infections.”
The benefits of Gallium G68 are at many levels
- Quick and easy scan
- Less discomfort to the patient
- Molecular imaging – precise scanning
- The newer generation hardware increases the sensitivity of the system thereby reduces the scan time for the patients significantly
- Reduced administration of Radiopharmaceuticals helps in reducing the radiation dose to the patients
- Wide bore and short tunnel helps in reducing the claustrophobia and also is convenient for obese patients.
- Identifies undetected lesion; means better management for the patients
The level of details provided by the Gallium 68 scan allows doctors to more accurately stage the disease. We can then provide our patients with a treatment regimen aiming at achieving better outcomes. Combined with high-definition technologies, excellent resolution and images virtually free of motion, it is now possible to diagnose with the increased confidence that this exquisite molecular clarity provides. There by smaller lesions missed in the conventional PETCT would be identified.
