Nuclear Medicine & PET CT

The Department of Nuclear Medicine at INMOL comprises Nuclear Medicine and PET sections. In the Nuclear Medicine section, single-detector SPECT cameras have been replaced by two double-head and one single-head detector SPECT gamma cameras. These cameras are capable of performing whole-body imaging, static scans, dynamic studies, and various tomography procedures. Patients visit the department for various procedures, including thyroid, bone, renal, and cardiac scans, as well as radionuclide therapies. Among other scans, liver, hepatobiliary, parathyroid, iodine-131, MUGA, cardiac, MIBG, octreotide, lung, Meckel’s scan, and gastrointestinal bleed studies are also performed. Radionuclide therapy with I-131 is a regular service. In addition to all these, P-32 therapy for bone palliation and thrombocythemia is offered at the department. Expertise in Lu-177 EDTMP and other radionuclide therapies is also available.

Our facilities and equipment are modern, state-of-the-art, and furnished with the latest technology. The first public sector PET-CT facility in the country was established at INMOL in 2010. PET-CT combines the advantages of the excellent functional information provided by PET with the superb spatial and contrast resolution of CT. F-18 FDG PET-CT is primarily used for the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer (oncology) patients because it can potentially differentiate benign from malignant lesions due to the high metabolic activity of many types of aggressive tumors. An in-built 16 MeV cyclotron was installed at INMOL with the capability of producing various PET isotopes, including F-18. The first 68Ga generator in the country became functional at INMOL in 2017, and the first patient was scanned in November 2017. Since then, 68Ga PSMA PET-CT studies for prostate cancer and 68Ga DOTA-NOC PET-CT studies for neuroendocrine cancers have been conducted regularly. Our points of strength include experienced and qualified Nuclear Physicians, trained manpower, state-of-the-art equipment, and a license from the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). The PNRA operates under the regulatory requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and conducts regular audits and inspections for quality assurance and radiation safety. Moreover, continuous upgradation of equipment and technology, as well as regular national and international training of technical staff, has made the Division of Nuclear Medicine & PET-CT at INMOL one of the best in the field in our country.

PET/CT

Oncology (Cancer Staging, Restaging, Treatment Response and Follow-Up)
Miscellaneous including fever of unknown origin, Sarcoidosis, Vasculitis, Polymyositis etc.
Novel Studies: 18F-Sodium Fluoride PET-CT for the diagnosis of bone metastases from various cancers; 18F-Fluoroestradiol PET-CT for the management of newly diagnosed estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients; 99mTc PSMA whole-body planar and SPECT-CT for metastases from prostate cancer.

Nuclear Oncology