Nuclear Medicine at SKMCH&RC, Lahore

The Department of Nuclear Medicine at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC), Lahore is one of the most technologically advanced department in the country and the region; delivering comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic applications of this unique specialty, which employs minute amounts of radioactive material called radiopharmaceuticals to study the function of body systems and organs. These state-of-the-art services are provided by nuclear physicians backed by a team of medical physicists, radiochemists, radiopharmacists, cyclotron engineers, technologists and nurses.

All departmental workings are governed by stringent international (International Atomic Energy Agency) and national (Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority) regulations and our team of highly qualified consultants ensure compliance with the standards set for the safe and appropriate use of radiopharmaceuticals in medicine.

OUR EXPERTISE

The Department of Nuclear Medicine at SKMCH&RC offers a large diversity of diagnostic and therapeutic services, which play a central role in patient management.

To provide the diagnostic services, the Department of Nuclear Medicine is equipped with:

  • Two Time-of-Flight PET-CT scanners
  • Two Hybrid SPECT-CT gamma cameras
  • One Dual head Gamma camera
  • One DXA scanner

Portable Molybdenum-Technetium generators are the primary source of radio-active material. These are sourced from three different internationally licensed vendors, to ensure quality as well as constant availability.

Radiopharmacy at SKMCH&RC, Lahore qualifies as Level-3C defined by IAEA. It is equipped with state-of-the-art cGMP compliant synthesis and dispensing equipment. It houses intricate lead shielded Lemmarpax Isolators, conventional radiopharmacy and related USP compliant Quality Control equipment. Radiopharmacy synthesises complex radiopharmaceuticals 18F-FDG with on-site cyclotron and Ga68 radiopeptides with latest equipment in a sterile and aseptic environment.

We not only fulfil our requirement at our facilities in Lahore and Peshawar, but we also provide PET radiopharmaceuticals to other institutes in Lahore, as and when needed.

Images are processed and analysed on dedicated work stations and archived on the Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS), making SKMCH&RC a filmless digital setup. These images are accessible from dedicated systems in the hospital, which are password protected.

Radioactive iodine is the treatment for overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and certain types of thyroid cancer. We, at SKMCH&RC, Lahore, have consultant led clinics and facility for in-patient admission of these patients after high dose therapy.

We offer palliative treatment for metastatic bone pain with Sr-89 and Sm-153. Bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals are an effective modality in patients with metastatic cancer.

Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine:

PET-CT: Oncology (cancer staging and follow-up), Neurology, Fever of unknown origin

Nuclear Oncology: PET-CT, Radioactive iodine (thyroid cancer), Gallium-67 (lymphoma, infection), MIBG (neuroendocrine tumour), Octreotide (somatostatin receptor studies), Sentinel lymph node

Nuclear Cardiology: Myocardial perfusion studies, MUGA, FDG PET

Genitourinary System: Dynamic renal imaging (DTPA, MAG3), DMSA, Captopril studies, Nuclear cystography, Testicular imaging

Musculoskeletal imaging [SPECT-CT]: Bone scan, Bone Marrow colloid scans

Gastrointestinal Imaging: Gastric emptying, GI Bleed, Meckel’s Scan

Hepatobiliary Imaging: HIDA, Liver-Spleen colloid imaging

Pulmonary Imaging: V/Q scans for pulmonary embolism / function assessment

Endocrine Imaging [SPECT-CT]: Thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal imaging

Infection Imaging: [SPECT-CT]: Gallium, FDG, Bone scan

Neurological Imaging: Brain FDG PET-CT

Bone Densitometry: DXA scan

Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine:

Radioactive iodine (I131) therapy for benign and malignant thyroid disease

Palliative treatment for metastatic bone pain with Sr-89 or Sm153

Thyroid cancer clinics / Thyroid multidisciplinary tumour board /clinics

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR PHYSICIANS

The Department of Nuclear Medicine has commitment to education and research. We are affiliated with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) for a 4-year training in FCPS Nuclear Medicine. Currently, the department has 6 positions for FCPS-II trainees. Additionally, we offer two positions for 1-year fellowship in PET-CT and Nuclear medicine for post-FCPS candidates. We also host visiting MSc. in Nuclear Medicine fellows from Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) in Islamabad. Former trainees from our department have been awarded fellowships in UK and USA.

STUDENT ELECTIVES

Elective opportunities are available for medical students in the department of Nuclear Medicine.