11 September
West Country actor Charles Dance has officially opened a new
£750,000 state-of-the art SPECT/CT (single photon emission computed
tomography) scanner at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS
Foundation Trusts Department of Radiology at the Bristol Royal
Infirmary.
The Siemens scanner, which replaces a 22 year old gamma camera,
takes CT (computed tomography) pictures of the structures of a
patients body. At the same time, a mildly radioactive substance
shows up areas of the body where the cells are more active than
normal.
By combining these two sets of images in a 3D format it allows
doctors to see any changes in the activity of cells and to identify
exactly where the changes are happening in the body.
This gamma camera is the first in the UK with such high
specifications.
The scans give doctors and patients vital information. They can
help to diagnose specific cancers, show whether the tumour has
spread to other parts of the body, and help doctors decide on the
best treatment, or even how that treatment is progressing.
The SPECT/CT scanner can also help to identify the cause and
severity of benign conditions such as endocrine, renal disorders
and brain function.
During his visit to the University Hospitals Bristol NHS
Foundation Trust, Mr Dance also visited the mobile PET-CT (positron
emission tomography combined with computed tomography) scanner.
This is also a new imaging service, complementing the SPECT/CT
scanner, which is used to assess a wide range of cancers and is
benefiting hundreds of patients in Bristol and across the West
Country.
Dr Julian Kabala, Consultant Radiologist for the University
Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, says: These two scanners
are powerful and complementary imaging tools which are essential
for modern high quality medical care, particularly in the field of
cancer. The scanners can diagnose and stage many types of cancer
and help us to assess the effectiveness of treatments.
Dr Graham Rich, Chief Executive of the University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, says: The scanners are leaders in
their field and we have invested in this advanced technology as
part of our strategy to develop as a world class specialist and
cancer centre.
