The thought of having cancer can scare just about everyone. If there is any positive side, it is that early detection, appropriate treatment and follow-up monitoring of tumors will increase survival rates. Most critical is the first step — pinpointing the precise location of the suspected cancer.

Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and positron emission tomography (PET) have come to serve as valuable tools in oncology imaging. Each modality has its attributes and shortcomings based on which region of the body cancer is suspected.

In terms of procedure volume, CT has been — and remains — the most widely used medical imaging modality to locate cancer initially. Over the past four years, however, PET has captured the attention of oncologists and radiologists, spurred greatly by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS of Baltimore, Md.) actions to reimburse PET imaging procedures for a growing number of oncology indications.

With CT providing the anatomical information and PET supplying the functional data, the latest technology boost for oncology imaging is the fusing of PET and CT scans into one image.

Please refer to the May 2002 issue for the complete story. For information on article reprints, contact Martin St. Denis