Advanced technology
for diagnosing and treating cancer, orthopedic issues, heart disease and other
issues that may go undetected is a necessity in the modern world of medicine.
Aspirus Divine
Savior Hospital and Clinic recently celebrated the installation of a new
Siemens Pro.specta imaging system with a staff open house.
This new technology
allows Aspirus Divine Savior to offer a wide range of nuclear imaging studies
for fractures and bone diseases, staging and restaging of cancer, evaluation of
cardiac, liver, lung, renal and thyroid function, and others.
Commonly referred to
as SPECT/CT, the technology uses a Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
(SPECT) and Computed Tomography (CT) simultaneously.
“Two different types
of images are taken during one exam and the pictures are merged together to
provide more precise information about how the body functions and to identify
any problems, said Daniel Gutmann, M.D., South Division Medical Director, Aspirus
Divine Savior Hospital and Clinics.
SPECT/CT systems use
small amounts of ionizing radiation that pass through the body to create an
image. This new state of the art system provides the correct low dose for each
individual patient while still maintaining the image quality physicians require
and also uses a small amount of a radioactive tracer called a
radiopharmaceutical.
“Different disease
processes are picked up by specific radiopharmaceuticals which help to identify
the issue and the isotopes used often decay within a few hours,” said Dr.
Gutmann. “This upgrade greatly increases diagnostic accuracy and clinical
confidence while making it as safe as possible for patients with tests
performed in less time and producing faster results.”
Physicians use the
results to help plan or determine the effectiveness of existing treatments. For
example, a nuclear scan may detect a stress fracture that an X-ray would not
show until it is much worse.
“This is a
significant investment for our facility that will enhance the capabilities of
our dedicated physicians and staff, said Brian Kief, Aspirus Health South
Division President. “We are especially optimistic about the opportunities
to expand our cardiac and orthopedic services which are critical needs in our
community.”
For more information
about services available at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital and Clinic, please
visit: aspirus.org.