BEIRUT: 23rd of April 2019: Little do people know about nuclear medicine and its latest technology, let alone about its state-of-the-art equipment. The PET/CT and SPECT/CT are two hybrid modalities that have advanced greatly the field of Nuclear Medicine, and which LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital have and are proud to be one of very few institutions in Lebanon to have installed the SPECT/CT machine.
What is Nuclear medicine? And how far did the equipment being used evolve?
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and determine the severity of a number of diseases or provide the necessary treatment. These diseases include many types of cancers, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological disorders and other abnormalities within the body.
Areas where SPECT/CT has made a difference include, but are not limited to, thyroid and parathyroid pathology, myocardial perfusion, infection imaging and orthopedic conditions.
“We care to provide our patients with the most desirable care and offer them both psychological and physical comfort considering the difficult phase they are passing through. Therefore, LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospital is the only Lebanese institution that uses special software and hardware which allows to merge both PET and MRI imaging. Fused PET/MRI is of great value in the brain, head and neck cancer, prostate and gynecological cancers, as well as musculoskeletal conditions,” said Dr Maroun Karam Professor of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Director of Nuclear Medicine at LAU/ Rizk Hospital.
Nuclear Medicine is a diagnostic and a therapeutic specialty. Rigorous protocols are used for treatment compatible with radiation safety. LAU Medical Center- Rizk Hospitals has a fully equipped and lead- protected room for treatments that require hospital admission.
About LAU Medical Center-RH:
LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital is a leading academic medical facility serving as the primary teaching hospital for LAU’s schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
Since 1925, the LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital has a heritage dedicated to fostering and advancing the health of humankind.
The hospital has evolved through its history in becoming more comprehensive with its services, facilities and offerings; continuously developing with the core purpose of healing with compassion.
The LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital is guided by high profile physicians and staff embracing a high standard of ethical sets of values.
It employs more than 200 physicians and 600 health staffs, all engaged in offering a professional, caring and preventive medical and human action.
It is committed to excellence in patient care, clinical outcomes, academics and research by continuously investing in human resources as well as cutting-edge equipment.