Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT

This department incorporates all aspects of oncological and non-oncological radioisotope imaging as well as radioisotope therapy

The department runs across both our hospital sites, in Chelsea and Sutton. We develop advanced imaging pathways which follow all our patients through diagnosis, staging, treatment and on-going follow up.

We have strong strategic links with The Institute of Cancer Research and Biomedical Research Centre and a Clinical Research Facility (CRF) imaging grant, which allow us to contribute to and support a large imaging research portfolio, developing innovative approaches to address clinical problems in diagnosis, staging and monitoring of tumour response to therapy.

High quality services

Our Imaging Department is accredited by The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the Imaging Services Accreditation Scheme (ISAS) Standard v3.0 2017. Developed by The Royal College of Radiologists and the College of Radiographers, ISAS is designed to ensure that patients consistently receive high quality services delivered by competent staff working in safe environments.

Nuclear Medicine Gamma camera imaging

We have two state-of-the-art Siemens Intevo SPECT/CT gamma cameras on the Sutton site and one Philips Brightview gamma camera on the Chelsea site. All of these cameras are multi-functional with the ability to perform localisation CT with SPECT imaging, providing superior diagnostic information to SPECT alone on a full range of nuclear medicine studies.

PET/CT imaging

We have two state-of-the-art Siemens Biograph mCT PET/CT scanners on the Sutton site and one Philips Gemini TF PET/CT in Chelsea. Access to a variety of PET tracers is available for both clinical and research studies produced through our onsite Cyclotron owned by Alliance medical, generator produced radioisotopes in our radiopharmacy and third party suppliers.

DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry)

At Sutton, the GE Lunar Prodigy Bone Densitometer is currently operated four days per week (Mondays – Thursday). Bone densitometry services for the Chelsea hospital are provided at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

Radioisotope therapy

There are three adult and two paediatric shielded treatment rooms at the Sutton site. One of the paediatric treatment rooms is located in the new Children’s and Teenage Cancer Centre. These rooms provide accommodation for those undergoing inpatient radioisotope therapy. Outpatient therapies are administered by skilled staff in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT.