Advanced PET-CT, Gamma Camera and Targeted Therapies Launched at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre
HCG Aastha Cancer Centre in Ahmedabad introduces Gamma Camera, PET-CT scans, and targeted radionuclide therapies for precision cancer care.
In a significant leap for precision oncology, the HCG Aastha Cancer Centre in Ahmedabad has announced the launch of advanced nuclear medicine services. This new suite of technologies, including Gamma Camera imaging, PET-CT scans, and targeted radionuclide therapies, is designed to transform how doctors detect, understand, and treat cancer.
Modern cancer care is shifting from merely locating a tumour to understanding its biological behavior. By integrating these advanced diagnostic and therapeutic tools, the centre aims to provide a more comprehensive approach, allowing specialists to tailor treatments to the specific characteristics of a patient's disease.
Precision Through Advanced Imaging: Gamma Camera and PET-CT
The introduction of the Gamma Camera marks a major upgrade in diagnostic capabilities. Unlike standard scans that focus on the physical structure of organs, a Gamma Camera provides insights into organ function. By using a safe, small amount of a radioactive tracer, the machine captures images of how tissues and organs—such as the heart, liver, kidneys, and thyroid—are actually performing. This allows for the early identification of physiological issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Complementing this is the PET-CT technology, which merges two critical diagnostic perspectives:
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography): Reveals the metabolic activity of cells, helping doctors identify highly active cancer cells.
- CT (Computed Tomography): Provides high-resolution anatomical images of the body's structures.
By combining these, medical professionals can accurately determine the location, spread, and activity level of a tumour, which is essential for staging the disease and monitoring how well a treatment is working.
The Power of Targeted Radionuclide Therapy
Beyond diagnosis, the centre has introduced targeted radionuclide therapies. This cutting-edge method uses radioactive medicines specifically designed to seek out and attach to cancer cells. Once attached, these medicines deliver radiation directly to the malignancy, aiming to destroy the cancer cells while significantly minimizing radiation exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues.
Dr. Surya Teja Gavani, Consultant Nuclear Medicine Specialist at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, noted that the centre utilizes various disease-specific tracers, including FDG, PSMA, DOTA, and FAPI. "The choice of tracer depends on the patient's condition and helps us understand the tumour more completely and plan the next step in treatment," he explained.
Examples of these specialized treatments include:
- Radioiodine therapy: Frequently utilized for specific thyroid cancers.
- PRRT: Used for certain neuroendocrine tumours.
- PSMA therapy: A targeted option for suitable prostate cancer patients.
A Comprehensive Approach to Cancer Care
By bringing advanced imaging and targeted radiation-based treatments under one roof, HCG Aastha Cancer Centre is positioning itself as one of the few facilities in the region capable of offering such an integrated model. This synergy allows multidisciplinary teams to gather deep biological data and immediately translate that information into precise, personalized treatment plans.