PET/CT has a unique imaging capability that can detect cancers in their earliest stages. Since a PET/CT scan images the metabolic activity of the body's tissues, it can often show cancer before anatomical or structural changes are evident on conventional imaging like CT and MRI. "The PET/CT has revolutionized the medical imaging field," says Dr. Shah Numani, American Board Certified PET/CT specialist at the American Hospital Dubai. "It is a powerful tool to diagnose and evaluate cancer, indicating whether or not it has spread to other areas of the body. It is also used in determining the early response of a cancer treatment, which ultimately guides therapeutic decisions. It is crucial to spare normal tissue and include the diseased area while determining the radiation field for cancer treatment. PET/ CT has been playing increasingly important role in radiation therapy planning".
An x-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT may not accurately characterize a lesion whether it is benign or malignant. PET/CT can often make this determination, many times avoiding unnecessary surgical biopsies.
The PET/CT scan is exceptionally sensitive in determining the full extent of the cancer and is more accurate than any other imaging modality, allowing physician and patient to decide the most appropriate treatment. One of the unfortunate phenomena in malignancy cases is the recurrence of the cancer. PET/CT can also differentiate between tumor recurrences and the changes caused by the patient's cancer treatment.Dr. Numani explains that PET/CT indicates abnormal metabolic activity in the brain at a very early stage and helps diagnose Alzheimer's disease almost two years before obvious clinical signs and symptom are seen. In addition, PET/CT also plays a very vital role in determining if the heart muscles are viable (alive) after a heart attack.
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About the American Hospital Dubai
The American Hospital Dubai is a 143 bed, acute care, general medical/surgical private hospital with a 60 physician multi-specialty group practice, designed to provide high quality, American standard of healthcare to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of the people of Dubai, the UAE and the surrounding Gulf States. The American Hospital Dubai became the first hospital in the Middle East to be awarded JCI accreditation in May 2000 and successfully underwent further surveys by the JCI in 2003 and in 2006 to maintain its accredited status.
The American Hospital Dubai has expanded to meet the demand for more personalized services, comfort and convenience, while broadening the services and deepening the level of expertise and care offered. In response to the strong increase in local and regional demand for its services, the hospital constructed a new state of the art Outpatient Clinic Building. In addition to the new facilities and services, the hospital continues its ongoing physician recruitment plan, which will extend the number of American Board Certified or equivalent practicing physicians at the Hospital from 60 to 110 over the next two years. The hospital's new bed tower currently under construction (due to complete in 2010) will transform the hospital into a 360 bed hospital.
www.ahdubai.com
Issued on behalf of the American Hospital Dubai by WPR
Media contacts:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Tel: 050 4588610
Email: jon@wprme.com
© Press Release 2010
