Services Overview

Nuclear Medicine & PET Centre
Introduction

Nuclear Medicine & PET Centre

Nuclear Medicine & PET Centre, aims at providing patients with comprehensive and highest quality Positron Emission Tomography, Nuclear Medicine and Radionuclide Therapy services.

In year 2001, the Hospital began to provide Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) services.  The Nuclear Medicine services was established in 2010. Over the years, both centres have been providing quality diagnostic services detecting functional and physiological disorder of human organs.

Inaugurated in 2014, Nuclear Medicine & PET Centre was established by merging the Positron Emission Tomography and Nuclear Medicine services to fully optimize the medical equipment. The service has been continuously improving. New facilities were introduced including a new Cyclotron & Molecular Imaging Tracers Centre for production of varieties of PET radiotracers in year 2017.

Equipped with the best in class instruments, the Nuclear Medicine & PET Center provides top quality, accurate clinical imaging, and non-imaging diagnostic services as well as Radionuclide Therapy.

Scope of Services

  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT)
  • Radionuclide Therapy (including Iodine-131 for thyrotoxicosis, Iodine-131 for thyroid cancer ablation, Lutetium-177 PSMA for Prostate Cancer, Lutetium-177 Dotatoc for neuroendocrine tumor.)
  • Cyclotron, supply Radiopharmaceuticals for Positron Emission Tomography
Service Hours & Contact

Nuclear Medicine

Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday and Public Holidays Closed

PET-CT

Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday and Public Holidays Closed

For enquiries and appointments, please contact us at:

Nuclear Medicine & PET-CT

  • LG2/F, Block A, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital
  • 2339 7428-7429 (PET-CT)
    Doctors
    Dr.LOK Chiu Ming
    Director, Nuclear Medicine & PET Centre
    Director, Cyclotron & Molecular Imaging Tracers Centre
    Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, HKU
    Qualifications
    MBChB(CUHK)
    FHKCR
    FHKAM(Radiology)
    Specialist in Nuclear Medicine
    About Nuclear Medicine & PET

    What is Nuclear Medicine?

    Nuclear Medicine is a clinical specialty, with the application of radiopharmaceuticals in form of “unsealed radioactive source”, for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Nuclear Medicine imaging by gamma camera is unique in documenting functional and molecular abnormalities in diseases, even before anatomical or structural changes occur. It involves the administration of radiopharmaceutical which accumulates in the target organ or area of body being examined. Modern gamma camera incorporates a CT component for better lesion localization and is called a SPECT-CT scanner.

    Apart from diagnostic imaging, administration of different radiopharmaceuticals can be used for treatment of diseases. Radioactive iodine (I-131) ablation is frequently performed for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer.

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    Gamma Camera
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    State-of-the-art Cardiac Camera with Alcyone Technology

    Common Indications of Nuclear Medicine Study 

    • Cardiovascular System
      • Evaluate symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath
      • Detect coronary artery disease (CAD)
      • Evaluate the extent and severity of CAD before revascularization, access the treatment response of revascularization
      • Pre-operative assessment for major surgery
    • Musculoskeletal System
      • Detection of early tumor invasion
      • Evaluate for fractures, infection, and arthritis
    • Nephrology & Urology System
      • Renal filtration and drainage function
    • Endocrine System
      • Measure thyroid function to evaluate hyperthyroidism and provide radioactive Iodine (I-131) therapy
      • Localize disease and function of parathyroid glands
      • Detect adrenal gland diseases
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    Stress and rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy shows significantly reduced blood flow to heart muscle due to coronary artery disease

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    Stress and rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy shows normal blood flow to heart muscle

    Preparations and Precautions 

    Different procedures require different preparations and precautions. The patient will be given an appointment sheet explaining the details of preparation for individual procedure. Imaging or treatment schedules are also diverse. They may last for a couple of minutes to a few hours. Some procedures may require separate sessions over a few days. Side effects of radiopharmaceuticals are very rare. The radiation dose to patient is often comparable to other imaging modalities.

    What is PET-CT?

    PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography) is also a dual-modality imaging study combining metabolic and anatomical information. The PET scan demonstrates regional metabolic information which is usually altered in disease process, while the CT scan reveals the structure and location of lesion within the body. The combination of PET-CT images enables accurate diagnosis and localization of disease. PET-CT scan is a non-invasive procedure and generally patients do not suffer any imaging related discomfort.

    Common Indications of PET-CT study

    • Oncology
      • Diagnosis and staging of malignancy before treatment planning
      • Monitor therapy response and effectiveness
      • Surveillance of cancer recurrence
    • Cardiology
      • Assess myocardial viability
    • Neurology
      • Evaluate dementia, Parkinsonism, psychiatric disorders and epilepsy
    • Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO)
      • Locate occult septic foci
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    PET-CT Scanner

    Preparations and Precautions 

    Different procedures require different preparations and precautions. The patient will be given an appointment sheet explaining the details of preparation for individual procedure. Side effects of radiopharmaceuticals are very rare. The radiation dose to patient is often comparable to other imaging modalities.

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    PET-CT showing lung cancer with nodal metastasis

    CYCLOTRON

    The Cyclotron & Molecular Imaging Tracers Centre, which complied with the international pharmaceutical manufacturing standard, was officially launched in 2017. The centre consists of medical cyclotron, sophisticated radiopharmaceutical synthesizer, radiopharmaceutical quality control laboratory, professional biochemical technology and other accessory facilities.

    With the commencement of our Cyclotron & Molecular Imaging Tracers Centre, the traditional radiotracer F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) currently widely used for PET imaging and various novel radiotracers can be produced.  The availability of various novel radiotracers from cyclotron will enhance a more comprehensive PET imaging service in oncology and mark a new page of PET imaging in neurology. New services can provide more accurate diagnosis and treatment for the benefits of oncology and neurology patients.

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    Radiopharmaceutical Quality Control Laboratory

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    Cyclotron Main Unit