From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Diagnostic Radiological Services (DRS) has unveiled its dedicated computer tomography/positron emission tomography(CT/PET) scanning facility in Alberton, which is currently the only one of its kind in the Johannesburg South region. Marleny Arnoldi visited the facility.

Marleny Arnoldi:

The DRS CT/PET facility, which neighbours the Netcare Alberton Hospital, comprises a dedicated reception, injection room and “hot lab” section, which is used to store and dose isotopes and other radioactive chemicals to detect diseases, as well as the world-class GE Healthcare CT/PET scanning machine.

The facility was completed late in 2022, with the first patient having been scanned in March this year.

Anatomical, or CT, and functional, or PET, scans traditionally occur separately, however, this machine combines the two for more accurate determination of the extent of diseases a patient may have, and in a quicker timeframe. The machine also allows for more targeted treatment owing to imagery at a molecular level.

The machine’s ultra-sensitivity enables the specialists to inject lower doses of radioactive chemicals, making it safer for patients and healthcare providers to use.

The type of isotopes injected into the patient depends on their suspected disease, as informed by oncologists, for example.

The CT/PET scanner can show at a detailed level where increased cell activity is taking place, be it inside the bone or glands of a patient. PET scans can detect and stage most types of cancers, often before they are evident through other tests.

Nuclear Med nuclear medicine physician Dr Florette Reyneke tells us more about the combination of CT and PET.

Diagnostics radiologist Dr Lee Kramer...

Marleny Arnoldi:

A patient is typically scanned for 7 to 12 minutes, with the radioactive material starting to work itself out of the body within 110 minutes of injection – meaning patients do not have to isolate themselves following treatment.

The CT/PET imagery technology was the only one lacking in DRS’ portfolio, which made sense for the company to invest in one, as well as the fact that patients from the area were often travelling far and wide to the northern parts of Johannesburg and Pretoria for combined CT/PET scans.

DRS director and practice head Dr Albert van Niekerk explains how the Medimix facility, within which DRS is located, has become centre of excellence for oncology.

DRS director and practice head Dr Albert van Niekerk...

Marleny Arnoldi:

GE Healthcare is a preferred vendor for DRS, with the companies having been partners for many years. GE Healthcare provides continuous maintenance and imagery improvement services on the machines that DRS uses.

Precision healthcare, with more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatment, is becoming more important for oncologists and other specialists in the nuclear medicine value chain.

GE Healthcare and DRS are committed to providing more personalised care by helping healthcare providers “see more, see smaller, see clearly and see changes”

GE Healthcare has a rich history of introducing new technology in South Africa, particularly Gauteng, GE Healthcare country manager Marlon Burgess shares his insight.

GE country manager Marlon Burgess...

Marleny Arnoldi:

Going forward, DRS can potentially treat patients using theranostics, which involves the use of one radioactive drug to identify a disease and a second one to deliver therapy to treat the main tumour and any metatistic tumours.

Van Niekerk elaborates.

DRS director and practice head Dr Albert van Niekerk...

Sashnee Moodley:

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