MHP now offers PET/CT Scanning

PET/CT Scanner

Oskaloosa – Mahaska Health Partnership Radiology will offer patients a powerful new diagnostic imaging system known as PET/CT, beginning Aug. 2.

This hybrid technology combines the strengths of two well-established imaging modalities in one imaging session to more accurately diagnose, locate, and stage cancers while increasing patient comfort. According to MHP Radiology Director Julie Hartke, BS, RT(R)(CT)(MR), a PET/CT scan is noninvasive and painless.

The mobile coach providing services at MHP combines the fastest and most sophisticated computed tomography (CT) technology with the most advanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technology. The PET portion creates images of high metabolic activity in the body, such as in cancerous cells. The CT portion allows doctors to see the internal structures within the human body. Together, the fused images of a PET/CT scan allow physicians to view metabolic activity and precisely locate abnormal lesions so that they may target the disease.

Hartke said the PET/CT system allows physicians the ability of PET to detect metabolic activity of cancerous cells with the pinpoint accuracy in location of CT in a single test.  This type of hybrid imaging allows providers to more accurately diagnose patients and better plan and monitor their treatments.

“Offering PET/CT Scans for detecting and treating cancers is another example of Mahaska Health Partnership’s commitment to innovation and technology for our patients and for our providers,” explained Hartke. “Other examples of this commitment include a new surgical X-ray machine, digital mammography, digital diagnostic X-ray, digital imaging network (PACS), and in-house MRI and multi-slice CT.”

PET/CT services will be available at MHP every Tuesday afternoon. For more information on radiology services available at MHP or to find out how the health system is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3322 or visit our website at mahaskahealth.org.