What Tests Can Detect Cancer? Doctors: Compared to Ordinary Tests, This One Has Advantages

Friends who know about cancer are likely aware that it is a malignant disease, and the later it is detected, the worse the treatment outcomes tend to be. If cancer is diagnosed at a late or terminal stage, the patient's five-year survival rate is extremely low. This is especially true for highly aggressive tumors like hepatocellular carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer, where patients can succumb to the disease within just a few months.

Because of this, the medical field consistently emphasizes the importance of early detection and early treatment of cancer. However, detecting cancer in its early stages can be challenging. This is because most organ cancers show no symptoms in their initial phases; patients may feel completely normal. Furthermore, because the cancerous foci are small, ordinary examinations like ultrasound or CT scans often struggle to detect the problem. Fortunately, medical technology and equipment are constantly advancing. The relatively new PET-CT scan, developed in recent years, holds promise for detecting early-stage lesions!

The so-called PET-CT combines PET and CT into one machine, forming a comprehensive imaging system. During the examination, a rapid full-body scan simultaneously produces CT anatomical images and PET functional metabolic images. The strengths of these two types of images complement each other, allowing doctors to understand the patient's biological metabolic information while also obtaining precise anatomical localization. This leads to a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of the disease.

Compared to ordinary CT or ultrasound examinations, PET-CT offers several advantages:

      1. Early Detection

PET-CT can diagnose early-stage malignant tumors. Cancer cells are highly metabolically active, taking up the tracer agent at a rate 2-10 times higher than normal cells. During the scan, this shows up as bright spots on the images. Therefore, PET-CT can detect hidden微小病灶 (tiny lesions) even before early tumors cause changes in anatomical structure.

2. Safer

The PET-CT examination is safe and non-invasive. The radionuclides used are mostly basic elements that constitute living organisms or very similar isotopes, and they have very short half-lives. The radiation dose received is slightly higher than that of a chest CT scan. It is safe and efficient, allowing for repeat examinations within a short period if necessary.

3. Accurate and Fast

PET-CT provides precise anatomical information through qualitative and quantitative analysis, helping clinicians better determine and locate the exact position of tumors. Its results are significantly more accurate than those from CT alone.

Moreover, a full-body PET-CT scan, covering areas like the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, takes only about 20 minutes. Compared to other imaging examinations, it is not only more comprehensive but also faster and more convenient.

4. Cost-Effective

PET-CT can detect tumors early and determine their nature and stage. The cost of treatment for early-detected tumors is reduced by at least 1-5 times compared to late-detected tumors. Furthermore, patients with early-detected tumors can see their survival period increase by 1-5 times, or even up to around 10 times. Also, a single PET-CT examination can accurately determine whether most tumors are benign or malignant and if they have metastasized. This avoids potential delays in diagnosis or the formulation of incorrect treatment plans that might occur with multiple different tests.

In summary, although the cost of a PET-CT scan is slightly higher than that of a CT or ultrasound, it is actually a highly cost-effective diagnostic method. Of course, this doesn't mean everyone should undergo this examination. It is most valuable for individuals who meet high-risk criteria for cancer, such as those with a family history, persistent uncomfortable symptoms, a history of chronic diseases, or those over the age of 45.

The PET-CT Center of Gansu Wuwei Medical Science Academy Tumor Hospital has introduced the US GE Discovery 710 Clarity super iterative PET-CT, the most advanced 256-ring LBS crystal PET/128-slice spiral CT in China. This equipment is the fourth in Gansu Province and the only PET-CT in prefecture-level city hospitals within the province. It is a super iterative device launched by GE, leading current world trends, offering higher sensitivity and specificity compared to ordinary PET/CT. Its unique 1.8mm high spatial resolution can greatly enhance the detection capability for minute lesions, while significantly reducing the scan time for whole-body examinations, lowering the radiation dose for the examinee, and yielding ideal diagnostic results. It is hailed as the crown of modern high-tech medicine. The center boasts first-class radiopharmaceutical laboratories and is equipped with a medical cyclotron system capable of producing various dedicated tracers (11C, 13N, 18F) required for diagnosing different diseases. The purity of the produced pharmaceuticals exceeds national standards, reaching world-class levels, ensuring precise diagnosis for our patients. Our hospital's PET-CT center has also become a PET-CT center in Gansu Province that simultaneously conducts 11C and 18F imaging.

Contact Us

Consultation Phone: Director Li Ke (13689357660)

Hospital Address: PET-CT Center, Heavy Ion Campus, Wuwei Medical Science Academy