Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography (SPECT/CT)
Single photon emission computed tomography, also known as SPECT/CT, is a new and efficient way of imaging in Theranostics ensuring physicians can see advanced 3D images of a patient’s body, their organs and condition.
How does it work?
SPECT/CT imaging combines two different imaging modalities, single photon emissions computed tomography and computed tomography, to obtain highly detailed images of a patient’s body to locate and monitor specific areas of interest.
- SPECT: This imaging modality uses radiopharmaceutical tracers that are designed to populate around a specific area of interest through injection into a patient’s bloodstream. The gamma camera located on the SPECT/CT machine will then be able to locate these tracers during a patients scan, giving our physicians more detailed images of the area of interest.
- CT: This imaging modality uses X-ray technology to provide high-resolution images of the body.
- This gives information about how organs and tissues function. In certain cancers, SPECT/CT can be used to help in making the diagnosis, staging and determining effectiveness of treatment. Research is also ongoing to determine if SPECT/CT scans can be used for personalized dosimetry, meaning adjusting the dose of subsequent treatments based on dose delivered to the target and normal tissues.
By offering SPECT/CT to our patients, Karmanos Cancer Institute can offer a better patient experience. This state-of-the-art machine is designed to move in and out around the patient’s body, rapidly contouring around the area of interest, offering more personalized scans, potentially reducing the need for re-scans.