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Jaslok Hospital Unveils Latest Nuclear Medicine Technology

Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre's Department of Nuclear Medicine is all set to offer two new path-breaking diagnostic tests for cancer and Parkinson's disease (PD). These technologies are being used for the first time in the country in a private hospital. The Somatostatin receptor PET-CT which has three times higher affinity than others for neuroendocrine tumors (cancer) and a diagnostic test —Dopamine Transporter SPECT Scan (DAT Scan) for PD patients.

Neuroendocrine tumours are cancers of the interface between the endocrine (hormonal) system and the nervous system. The Somatostatin receptor PET-CT is a new technique which uses highly sensitive PET-CT technology which surpasses the current methods to diagnose these tumours. The DAT scan is very useful for early diagnosis of PD and to distinguish it from essential tremors.

Says Dr Vikram Lele, Senior Consultant, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Jaslok Hospital, "Conventional CT scans have low sensitivity in the detection of neuroendocrine tumours. Using this technology, it is possible to diagnose these tumors with a high sensitivity and obtain very high resolution images even in sub-centimeter lesions. The patient is also not required to fast prior to the tests. The injection given to the patient's taking the test have no known allergic reactions or side effects as well. "

Commenting on the DAT scan, Dr Lele said, "Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter for communication between neurons in the human brain. In diseases like PD, there is a reduction in the Dopamine transporters on the neurons. For this scan, the patient has to stop all PD medications and psychiatric medications for 12 hours prior to the test. This test helps in distinguishing PD arising from unknown causes from Parkinson's and tremors."

EH News Bureau