Bangkok--Sep 23--Siemens
Chalabhorn Research Institute will install one of the world’s best medical imaging technologies, the PET/CT Biograph 16, for early cancer detection solution, manufactured by Siemens. It will be the first PET/CT hybrid system in Thailand.
The procurement contract is signed today (September 22) by Prof. Charas Suwanwela, vice president, Chulabhorn Cancer Centre, Prof. Chaivej Nuchprayoon, director, Chulabhorn Cancer Centre hospital and Siemens Ltd. by Mr. Korkiat Wiwatjaroenkit, Sales Manager of Medical Solutions, and Miss Panarat Theplertbun, Commercial Manager, Medical Solutions, at Chulabhorn Research Institute.
The equipment will be used for purposes of medical research and cancer diagnosis at Chalabhorn Research Institute. Siemens is expected to install the equipment including the training at the Institute in May next year after the completion of Chulabhorn Cancer Centre Hospital.
PET/CT Biograph 16 is designed to detect the mal-functioning of metabolic activity on human body cells and accurately pinpoint the exact problem areas, which results in a precise diagnosis. This equipment is useful in detecting all types of cancers, covering the whole body. It captures tumors since the early stages, how much they have metastasized or spread into other parts of the body. Therefore it helps doctors to guide patients more accurate radiotherapy treatment.
The unique qualification of PET/CT Biograph 16 is the combination of PET scanner and CT. PET scanner is able to detect the changes in the metabolic activity on cells by injecting radiopharmaceutical into the patient prior to the examination. The radioactive substance, which is harmless and washed off the body by urine, is combined with a compound that is familiar to the body, such as glucose, or sugar. When glucose is attached to a radioactive element or tracer, cancer cells will light up on the computer screen.
Computed Tomography (CT) provides the anatomical map for pinpointing the exact location of tumor in the body to match their metabolic or functional information. After the tumors are detected, high resolution images are shown in cross-sectional and three-dimension form.
The high solution image of PET/CT Biograph 16 is built upon the platform of ultra-fast LSO-Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate crystal.
Prof. Charas Suwanwela, vice president, Chulabhorn Cancer Centre, says “this marks the significance in medicine advancement identifying abnormal functioning in the level of metabolic cells. Particularly, it happened as a result of close collaboration among the National Cancer Institute of Thailand, Faculties of Medicine of Chulalongkorn Hospital, Siriraj Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital, in procuring the equipment and training involved personnel in order to efficiently use the equipment.
I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the support of Office of Atoms for Peace in coordinating with IAEA to grant scholarships for personnel training, including supplying some equipment. I strongly believe that this will give highest benefit to the majority of Thai people. In addition to that, I would like to thank the Government Lottery Office which contributed partial funding to Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn for continuing her work to helping cancer patients and developing cancer research program”.
Mr. Albert Ritzer, Senior Vice President, Medical Solutions, Siemens Ltd., Thailand, adds, “we are very proud and honored that the Chulabhorn Cancer Center has selected Siemens PET/CT Biograph16 to be part of its cancer research and early cancer detection solution. With the cutting-edge of hybrid technology in molecular imaging and 16 slice computed tomography, Siemens is convinced that this intelligent PET/CT system will fulfill the centre’s goal to become the national leader in cancer research and will benefit the Thai people in the long run”.
For more information about Siemens Limited,
please visit our website at http://www.siemens.co.th.
For more information about Chulabhorn Research Institute,
please visit its website at http://www.cri.or.th End.