The advanced medical imaging procedure, the Quadra PET/CT Scan, can detect cancer in just four minutes, significantly shorter than conventional CT scans, which can take 30-60 minutes.
The Quadra PET/CT Scan is a single tool that provides both metabolic and anatomical information. So, a PET scan can assess metabolism, identifying high-metabolism cells. Meanwhile, CT scan data is used to assess anatomy.
When Should a PET/CT Scan Be Performed?
A PET/CT scan is recommended after a diagnosis of cancer, a tumor, or inflammation. For example, breast cancer patients are advised to undergo a PET/CT scan after undergoing one cycle of treatment, as explained by surgical oncologist Dr. Reza Musmarliansyah.
Typically, patients who have undergone full or adequate therapy, such as breast cancer patients whose type and characteristics are already known, are sent for a PET/CT scan after treatment.
PET/CT Scan is performed after cancer treatment such as radiotherapy or immunotherapy is carried out because if it is performed during therapy it can confuse the PET/CT Scan results.
Chemotherapy, for example, causes inflammation elsewhere, which can lead to flares, which appear as red flares on scans. Is this cancer or inflammation? Therefore, a PET/CT scan is performed after treatment.
Quadra PET/CT Scan Procedure
For a patient who will undergo a Quadra PET/CT Scan, these are the steps taken:
- Fast
Fasting for at least six hours before the Quadra PET/CT Scan is performed as explained by Junan.
- Radiopharmaceutical Injection
A radiopharmaceutical injection, a non-metabolizing sugar, is administered. After the injection, the patient is asked to remain calm and not agitated for approximately 60 minutes.
- Quadra PET/CT Scan Performed
Afterward, a Quadra PET/CT scan will be performed, which takes four minutes. The patient can listen to their favorite music while the scan is taking place.
The advantage of the Quadra PET/CT Scan is its speed. A PET scan can take 30 minutes to an hour. If you've had a PET scan before, you'll definitely notice a significant difference.
- After the scan, you can go home straight away.
After the Quadra PET/CT scan, patients can go home immediately. Because the radiation is low, they can go home. In other settings, it takes about 30 minutes to wait for the radiation to take effect.
Advantages of Quadra PET/CT Scan
Quoting the EMC page, the Quadra PET/CT Scan technology at EMC Grha Kedoya changes the approach to cancer by focusing on disease monitoring, through:
1. Early Detection and Diagnosis
With its extremely high sensitivity and superior image quality, the Quadra PET/CT Scan can identify cancer at an early stage when it's more treatable. This means a much higher chance of cure and less invasive treatment.
2. Treatment Monitoring
The Quadra PET/CT Scan allows clinicians to see the effects of treatment in real time and make adjustments as needed. This ensures that your therapy is truly effective and tailored to your body's response.
3. Personal Treatment
Supporting accurate treatment by identifying the unique characteristics of tumors. Every cancer is unique, and with this technology, we can provide highly personalized and targeted treatment.
4. Better Patient Outcomes
With its high scan speed and low radiation dose, the Quadra PET/CT Scan delivers better outcomes in guiding effective and personalized treatment, enhancing patient comfort and safety.
With the Quadra PET/CT Scan, patients now have access to faster and more accurate imaging technology. The combination of detecting cellular metabolic activity while displaying anatomical images allows doctors to obtain more comprehensive information in a shorter time.
This not only speeds up the diagnostic process, but also supports more accurate clinical decision-making so that patients can receive appropriate treatment immediately.
This article is based on the Healthy Monday program, a collaboration between EMC Healthcare and Liputan6, with speakers Dr. Junan Imaniar Pribadi, Sp.KN-TM., FANMB. (Nuclear Medicine Specialist at EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital) and Dr. Reza Musmarliansyah, Sp.B (K) Onk, FICRS (Surgical Oncology Consultant at EMC Pulomas Hospital).