St. Mary Medical Center Cancer Care Center in Hobart offers one of the most advanced diagnostic tools available for cancer detection: the Siemens Biograph™ mCT 20 PET/CT imaging system. The device provides patients with a quicker, more comfortable imaging experience with access to two powerful diagnostic procedures that when combined, can detect cancer in its earliest stages.
The hospital installed the new PET/CT scanner at St. Mary Medical Center’s Cancer Care Center, 300 W. 61st Avenue in Hobart this spring.
“This advanced diagnostic equipment provides our patients and physicians with a precise and powerful imaging tool to aid in the early detection of cancer and other diseases,” said CEO Janice Ryba. “We are proud to bring expanded PET/CT services to our patients with the addition of this technology to our Cancer Care Center.”
Positron Emission Tomography, or PET scans, produce images of patients’ organs and tissues using low doses of radioactive material that are highlighted by the PET imaging. This process produces images that physicians can use to assess organ function and detect disease.
Computerized Tomography, or CT, consists of a series of x-ray images taken from various angles and assembled via computer into a cross-sectional image that is more detailed than a standard x-ray.
The PET/CT scanner is capable of performing both of these scans in one imaging procedure. This not only saves time and cost for the patient, but quickly provides physicians with highly defined images that can help them detect cancer and other diseases in very early stages.
PET/CT scans can be completed in just five minutes and the machine’s wider scanning area enhances patient comfort.
Oncologist and Cancer Committee Chair Dr. Peter Tothy said the new scanner at St. Mary Medical Center increases patients’ timely access to these important diagnostic procedures.
“This is very exciting technology that places St. Mary Medical Center at the cutting edge of diagnostic imaging,” he said.
Until installation of the new unit, St. Mary Medical Center had provided the PET/CT diagnostic service to patients on a limited basis through an outside provider. In order to increase patient access and convenience, and on physician request, the hospital acquired the onsite unit. Patient imaging appointments are available five days per week with Saturday appointments beginning later this summer.
Imaging Director Peter Dyba said the hospital renovated and upgraded the Cancer Care Center building space to accommodate the new equipment and optimize patient flow through the facility. The addition of an in-house PET/CT and the expanded availability of appointments, he said, will allow patients to schedule procedures, and their physicians to get the results, more quickly.
“We were able to offer this service before, but the scheduling was limited,” Dyba said. “This is a lot more convenient for patients than our previous arrangement, and it is something that our physicians asked for. We are meeting a need for our patients and physicians.”
St. Mary Medical Center recently received the Indiana Cancer Consortium’s Organizational Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Control 2017 for its efforts to promote awareness, early detection and successful treatment of cancer through screenings and community outreach.
St. Mary Medical Center is a hospital of Community Healthcare System that also includes Community Hospital in Munster and St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago. To learn more about Community Healthcare System, visit comhs.org
