New PET.CT technology enables physicians to achieve a higher level of accuracy and safety in assessing cardiovascular disease
ABU DHABI, 19 January 2011 - Tawam Molecular Imaging Centre (TMIC), the first dedicated molecular imaging facility of its kind in the region, today announced that it has performed the nation's first PET.CT cardiac myocardial perfusion scan, utilizing the latest globally available PET.CT technology. The new scan looks at blood flow in the heart, bringing current international best practices in the field of cardiac molecular imaging to Al Ain and the region.
This revolutionary diagnostic technology provides a non-invasive assessment of blood flow to the heart muscle, enabling physicians to achieve a new level of sensitivity in imaging with regard to assessing patient risk, coronary function, vascular blood flow and cardiovascular disease. The new cardiac PET.CT scan has been made possible with an advanced protocol compiled by the team of professionals at TMIC. The procedure requires a dedicated on-site cyclotron capable of producing nitrogen isotopes, along with a state-of-the-art 64-slice PET.CT scanner and advanced analysis software.
"The use of myocardial perfusion PET.CT is a major technical advance in cardiac care in the UAE. The new technology is safer than older techniques in terms of radiation exposure, but delivers higher quality images," said Thomas F Heston, MD. Heston is a Consultant Physician in the UAE, a Fellow of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and medical director of the cardiac PET.CT program at TMIC.
TMIC is a specialist imaging centre featuring advanced diagnostic imaging systems that are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer as well as cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The Centre, wholly owned by Mubadala Healthcare, is the result of a turn-key solution provided by Siemens Healthcare and clinically operated by Johns Hopkins Medicine International to deliver locally, world class standards in molecular imaging. The facility is the UAE's first diagnostic centre with an on-site Cyclotron which produces the necessary tracers, essential for accurate PET.CT examinations. Immediate access to these tracers facilitates faster more accurate examinations, provides diagnostic examinations which were previously only available abroad and provides other diagnostic facilities in the vicinity access to this important technology.
The new technique allows clinical decisions regarding cardiac care to be based on additional objective, physiological measures of heart muscle function and blood flow. The scan's unique technology is of particular benefit to diabetics, who tend to have small vessel disease, which is more accurately assessed by PET. It is expected in many cases to replace the older technology of gamma camera based examinations.
Patients receive an injection of nitrogen tracers, which are taken up by cardiac cells, and act like a 'beacon' to highlight normal and abnormal blood flow. Like most diagnostic imaging, the scan involves a small amount of radioactivity, but the PET.CT technique requires about 80 percent less radiation than the older gamma camera examination, commonly referred to as a cardiac SPECT scan.
"Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the UAE driving the search for sustainable and innovative ways to improve patient safety and manage cardiac disease, cost effectively. Early diagnostic accuracy is therefore a top priority," said Heston
With global molecular imaging technology advancing at an increasing pace, TMIC recognizes the need to keep cardiologists, physicians and radiologists up to date with the appropriate uses of this advanced PET.CT technology. To address this, TMIC has initiated an education program to provide medical clinicians with details regarding new molecular imaging techniques and regularly hosts lunch-and-learn seminars at TMIC.
"Our goal is to help improve medical care by making available safe and accurate diagnostic tests to patients. We can now offer the UAE advanced PET.CT technology, not only for cancer patients, but also for patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease," concluded Dr Heston.
TMIC recognizes that knowledge, and awareness, about the clinical application of the advanced molecular imaging technology is critical to the continued improvement in outcomes for patients with cancer and cardiac disease. It is therefore taking active steps to share their experience in PET.CT imaging with medical professionals throughout the region by hosting seminars at the state-of-the-art facility at the Tawam Hospital Campus. Their next seminar, 'Molecular Imaging in Cardiology' offers Category II CME certification and will be held on Tuesday, 1st February, 2011, at 12 noon.
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About Tawam Molecular Imaging Centre
Tawam Molecular Imaging Centre is a world-class specialist molecular imaging facility, wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company. TMIC forms part of Mubadala Healthcare, a division of Mubadala Development Company and represents one of the key initiatives within their healthcare plans to establish world-class medical facilities in the UAE. With best-in-class international organizations Siemens and Johns Hopkins Medicine International - the clinical operators the centre, TMIC delivers world-class standards in imaging diagnostics to the UAE and the region. The centre is located on the Al Ain based Tawam hospital campus, renowned for its reputation as a leading regional oncology centre. Supporting the existing capabilities of the hospital, the TMIC extends a continuum of quality healthcare to meet the growing healthcare needs of the UAE and surrounding GCC countries. www.tmic.ae
About Mubadala Development Company
Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) is a catalyst for the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi. Established and owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi, the company's strategy is built on the management of partnerships and long-term, capital-intensive investments that deliver strong financial returns and tangible social benefits for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and contribute to the growth and diversification of its economy.
Mubadala brings together and manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of local, regional, and international investments and partners with leading global organizations to operate businesses across a wide range of industry sectors including aerospace, energy, healthcare, industry, information communications and technology, infrastructure, real estate and hospitality. For more information about Mubadala please visit www.mubadala.ae
About Mubadala Healthcare
As a business unit of Mubadala Development Company, Mubadala Healthcare is playing an instrumental role in the creation of a thriving healthcare sector for the Emirate. By establishing partnerships with renowned international medical institutions, it is actively investing to develop healthcare services that provide patients with world-class treatment in their home country. Mubadala Healthcare evaluates potential projects both on their likely commercial returns as well as on their socio-economic impact. It aims to establish sustainable businesses, build regional capability and stimulate the overall development of the sector. The first priority has been to address the region's most pressing healthcare needs through the creation of specialist healthcare facilities. In collaboration with medical organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Imperial College London and Cleveland Clinic, the goal is to bring the highest standards of clinical expertise to the region and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment. www.mubadala.ae/sectors/healthcare
About Johns Hopkins Medicine International
Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) facilitates the global development of the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission: to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. As the international access point to thousands of Johns Hopkins experts in medicine, nursing, public health and health care administration, JHI coordinates treatment for out-of-town patients who travel to Baltimore and for local patients with limited English proficiency. It also provides services in hospital management, health care consulting and clinical education through strategic alliances and affiliations in the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.
For further information, please contact:
Karen Fitzpatrick Talty
Acount Director
Grayling Momentum
karen@graylingmomentum.com
Mob: +971 50 453 0644
© Press Release 2011
