More than 1,000 people travel abroad every year to get PET/CT scans. People with cancer and major heart and lung diseases have to travel at a high cost for a single scan. These trips ended with the introduction of PET/CT scan service in ADK in July.
The Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography (PAT-CT) scan is one of the most important scans to check the body's anatomy and the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. This is a scan done by injecting a radioactive tracer into the body.
ADK Hospital Cancer Specialist, Dr. Kamal Raj Soti said that PET/CT scans help in understanding the biochemical and metabolic properties of the internal images and tissues of the body. He said the scan will not only detect diseases such as cancer but also the extent of the disease and the effect of treatment.
In addition to cancer, the scan is also used to diagnose heart disease, bone diseases and neurological diseases.
ADK hospital's PET/CT scan room. -- Photo: Abdulla Iyan
“If cancer is suspected, a PET scan can be done to identify the exact point of the problem and a sample can be taken for testing,” Kamal explained.
The radioactive material required for the scan must be used within hours of manufacture. The material is produced in an Indian factory and brought to Maldives in the amount needed for the scan on that day.
“When the tracer is produced in the factory and brought to Maldives, only half of it will remain. That is used to scan patients,” he said.
Scans are scheduled every two weeks when 7-8 patients are available. Since July, 59 people have done the scan.
The PET scan service will cost between MVR 7,500 and MVR 8,500. However, financial assistance can be arranged through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).
Facilities for ADK hospital's PET/CT scan room. -- Photo: Abdulla Iyan
The service is one of the most important services for cancer diagnosis. Dr. Kamal said the number of patients having to be sent abroad has decreased significantly with the introduction of the service.
"The introduction of PET/CT scan service by ADK is a revolutionary step," he stated.
The introduction of this service in Maldives required several permits before the nuclear material used in scanning could be acquired. ADK has established a nuclear medicine department and a safe environment to prevent the leak of radioactive materials.
