The “crowded” seminar room!

Dr Nat Lenzo

From L to R: Nat Lenzo, KH Ng and Roger Price in rapt attention as Dr PK Loh speaks

Dr Mohd Ali seeking clarifications and answers from the panel Dr Manivannan, a clinical oncologist asks very pertinent questions

By Dr Evelyn Ho

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is the latest buzzword in the clinical imaging fraternity especially when combined with computed tomography to provide both functional and anatomical information. Healthcare facilities are naturally interested in the setting up of a PET imaging facility. The first PET/CT scanner has already been set up in the Penang General Hospital in January 2005.

Raising awareness of the rewards and challenges of establishing a clinical PET imaging facility was on the agenda of a seminar organised by the College of Radiology with the help of sponsors, IBA.

The response to this seminar was overwhelming with 85 participants spending their Saturday afternoon at Petaling Jaya Hilton with the presentation team. The audience comprised radiologists, clinical oncologists, radiographers, medical physicists, clinicians, administrators and business development managers.

Dr Nat Lenzo presented the clinical applications of PET as well as what was in the future for PET. Dr Lenzo is Head of Nuclear Medicine at the Royal Perth Hospital, Head of the Western Australian PET/Cyclotron Service, Adjunct Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University and a founding member of the Institute of Radiochemical Engineering. Dr Lenzo’s unit has performed over 5000 PET scans since it started in late 2002. Currently it is producing its own radiopharmaceutical and Dr Lenzo’s research interest is into radiopharmaceuticals for a variety of diseases currently not so well demonstrated with 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG). This is because not all cancers or diseases take up 18-FDG well.

Professor Dr KH Ng imparted the medical physics and engineering of PET in a most interesting and elegant manner. It did not prove too technical at all, especially on a Saturday afternoon!

He gave an overview of diagnostic imaging tools, the search for the elusive particle – the positron, the invention of the cyclotron in the production of artificial radioactive elements, the physics and technology of PET and PET/CT. He also presented his experience in commissioning the first PET/CT scanner in Malaysia (i.e. Penang from 26-29 January 2005). Professor Ng touched on the “new” PET scanners - the Mouse PET scanner for research into molecular imaging (scanning is done on mice) and research on the possibility of combining MRI with PET.

Roger Price is Head of Medical Technology & Physics and the Radiopharmaceutical Production & Development (RAPID) Laboratories, Sir Charles Gardner Hospital, Perth and Adjunct Associate Professor in Biophysics at the University of Western Australia. Roger was part of the planning and execution team for the WA Cyclotron and Radiopharmacy Labs, from the projection inception in 2000. Therefore, the experience and knowledge he shared was invaluable to those in the audience planning to set up a Cyclotron. He spoke on the cost-effectiveness in radioisotope production, physical location of a radioisotope production centre, general design considerations for the centre, selection of major equipment - options & challenges, the infrastructure construction phase, installing & commissioning equipment and operating the production centre.

The roundup at the end of the seminar was a short presentation on “Trends in PET” by Dr PK Loh. Dr Loh’s research interest is in the adoption of innovative technologies in healthcare organizations. He is holder of a Research Fellowship from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and also member of Ausbiotech, the umbrella organisation for Australian biotechnology organisations.

Dr Loh led the audience into an interactive Q & A session with the panel of speakers. Amongst those participating in the interactive session was Dr Mohd Ali, Head of Diagnostic Imaging Department in Penang General Hospital. The first PET/CT scanner in Malaysia is installed in Dr Ali’s department.

All in all, it was an afternoon well spent for both speakers and participants. PET, Positron Emission Tomography is a scan of functional information of the body by introducing a radiopharmaceutical into the body via the blood vessel. It is particularly important in the management of cancers, neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s as well as cardiovascular problems.

It is hoped that this seminar will be the start of continuing professional development and continuing medical education in a relatively new imaging field – the PET and PET/CT. A PET/PET-CT workshop is already being planned. It will only be a matter of time before Malaysia owns more than 1 PET/PET-CT scanner and starts their own cyclotron facility.

The speakers have kindly consented for their presentations to be made available for download in the Radiology Malaysia CME section.