MIDLAND, Mich., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The world’s most advanced imaging technology for cancer patients will be available in mid-Michigan this summer thanks to a joint venture between Saint Mary’s and MidMichigan Medical Center- Midland. The two health leaders have formed a non-profit joint venture to provide positron emission tomography -- commonly known as PET imaging -- to hospitals in Michigan. The formal name of the joint venture is Advanced PET Imaging Network.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040413/MMHLOGO )
In addition to Saint Mary’s and MidMichigan, there are four additional host sites that will benefit from the new PET imaging service. These sites include: Gratiot Community Hospital (Alma), Marlette Community Hospital (Marlette), Tawas-St. Joseph Hospital (Tawas) and Central Michigan Community Hospital (Mt. Pleasant). This joint venture service will be provided on a mobile basis with the equipment in a 48-foot semi tractor-trailer coach that is moved from site to site.
PET is fast becoming the imaging gold standard for cancer patients. PET scanning is especially useful in detecting cancer instead of an open biopsy, identifying if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and measuring effectiveness of therapy as a follow-up to treatment.
This new high-tech equipment is a combination PET and CT (computerized axial tomography) scanner which allows shorter scan times and better visualization of the area of study in relationship to body organs. This is because the CT scanner produces a traditional three-dimensional x-ray of internal body structures that combines with the PET’s information showing areas of increased metabolism.
Ernie Balcueva, M.D., Saginaw area medical oncologist, director of clinical research at Saint Mary’s Seton Cancer Institute; president-elect of the Michigan Society of Hematology/Oncology comments, “With this technology, we can detect these early stages before a tumor starts to grow. This also can potentially eliminate the need for biopsy or additional testing. It makes detection so much earlier, and for the patients it saves a lot of money and provides a great deal of convenience.”
According to MidMichigan medical oncologist Michel R. Hurtubise, M.D., of East Central Oncology Associates, P.L.C., “PET imaging lets doctors see inside the body in ways we never have before. We can now see how the body works not just the shape of the internal organs. Because of the improved image quality, this system allows us to have more diagnostic confidence when treating cancer patients throughout this region.”
A radiologist who has specialized training in PET interprets the images. The PET interpreting radiology groups include Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, P.C. for Saginaw, Marlette and Tawas; Midland Radiology Associates, P.C. in Midland; and Mid-Michigan Radiology Associates for Gratiot and Mt. Pleasant.
The cost of the PET scanner and coach is approximately $2.3 million. Certificate of Need approval for this has been received and services are expected to begin August 1, 2004.
One in three people will experience cancer in their lifetime. According to the American Cancer Society, 1.3 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year alone in the United States.
A service of Saint Mary’s Hospital & MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040413/MMHLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comMidMichigan Medical Center-Midland; Saint Mary’s
CONTACT: Carol Campbell, Assistant Vice President of MidMichigan MedicalCenter-Midland, +1-989-839-3351, carol.campbell@midmichigan.org ; or GeriRudolf, Communications Coordinator of Saint Mary’s, +1-989-776-7794,grudolf@saintmarys-saginaw.org
