In order to provide a better service to its patients, Clínica Ricardo Palma enhances its Nuclear Medicine service with the integrated SPECT-CT device. This equipment, consisting of a CT scanner and a SPECT gamma camera, allows for more accurate diagnoses by providing complete functional and anatomical information on the status and progress of various conditions and diseases.

This scan allows to merge and combine information from SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) methods, in order to perform a more accurate study of the patient. In other words, it allows to analyze the information on body function from the nuclear medicine scan with the information on where and how the body structure is seen from the CT scan.

The implementation of this hybrid technique means a great advance in the detection of pathologies, since it achieves a more accurate and reliable localization of conditions in 3-dimensional images. Its main benefits are: it improves the sensitivity and specificity of gammagraphic studies, reduces scanning time, while reducing the radiation dose during the evaluation and provides images that facilitate better analysis.

“The performance of this type of scans is very beneficial for oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, urology, traumatology, neurology, among others. Herein lies the importance of having this technology. With the results of the studies, the specialists are in a position to prescribe the most appropriate treatment for their patients,” says Dr. Shirley Alarcón, head of the Nuclear Medicine Service of Clínica Ricardo Palma.

How does it work?

1. A radioactive substance known as a radiopharmaceutical is administered.
2. The SPECT takes functional images of the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the tissue or organ to be studied.
3. Non-contrast CT takes 3D images of the patient’s anatomy. The patient lies on a stretcher that moves towards a ring-shaped X-ray machine.
4. What is it used for?

• • • For the study of malignant, benign and/or inflammatory pathology of the skeleton.
    • To rule out bone infectious processes.
    • To rule out parathyroid adenoma
    • To rule out pulmonary thromboembolism and other pulmonary pathologies.
    • Study of cardiac ischemia.
    • Benign thyroid pathology
    • Radioactive iodine I131 screening in malignant thyroid pathology
    • Sentinel node detection
    • Study of neurodegenerative, psychiatric and cerebrospinal fluid disorders
    • In the characterization of hepatic hemangiomas and accessory spleen.

Dr. Shirley Alarcón
Head of the Nuclear Medicine Service of Clinica Ricardo Palma