New medical scanner boosts cancer care in the Waikato
The arrival of a Positron Emission and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanner should revolutionise cancer care in the region, says Midland PET-CT clinical director Hament Pandya.
A new radiology centre in Hamilton is expected to “revolutionise” cancer care in the region.
Hamilton Radiology’s new Positron Emission and Computed Tomography (PET-CT) Centre at the Anglesea medical complex will give patients more convenient and efficient care closer to home.
There are only five PET-CT scanners in the country and previously Waikato patients had to travel to Wellington, or sometimes even Australia, for scans.
The centre was officially opened by Health Minister Tony Ryall last week.
Midland PET-CT clinical director Dr Hament Pandya said the scanner technology was revolutionary.
“This is a world-leading technology, which is really going to revolutionise cancer care.”
In the past, patients would often have to endure numerous tests and scans that provided unclear results. The scanner provides more accurate information for diagnosis and treatment planning compared with conventional techniques and could potentially lessen the number of cancer-related deaths and complications in the region.
“We are really hoping that this will, down the line, extrapolate to better cancer outcomes all round. That could be either reduced mortality or definitely reduced morbidity. We’re trying to minimise unnecessary steps.
“In the remaining first world it is really an expected standard of care,” Mr Pandya said.
It is expected the centre will provide care for 300-350 patients a year from as far as New Plymouth and Gisborne, and will start to receive Waikato Hospital patients from June 1.
In addition to cancer-imaging, PET-CT scans are also used in the investigation of dementia, heart disease and muscular skeletal conditions.
