Our Nuclear Medicine Facility is an integral component of MTCMC Cancer Center, allowing for accurate diagnosis of disease, delivery of an appropriate treatment plan, and effective surveillance of disease. It offers accurate and precise Radioimmunoassay results for hormone and tumor marker assays, state of the art hybrid SPECT/CT nuclear imaging, and affordable and effective radionuclide therapy.

RADIOIMMUNOASSAY TEST

A gold standard of immunoassay which involves ost accurate and precise detection of hormones, tumor markers, and other substances (i.e. vitamins, metabolites, etc). It is considered safe, with no radiation exposure to patients.

• Accurate results = accurate diagnosis/treatment of disease
• Precise results = reliability of follow-up tests

Other tests included are:

• Anti-Thyroglobulin (Anti-Tg)
• Thyroid peroxidase antibody (Anti-TPO)
• Free Triiodothyronine (FT3)
• Free Thyroxine (FT4)
• Thyroglubulin (Tg)
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• Total Triiodothyronine (TT3)
• Total Thyroxine TT4

NUCLEAR IMAGING

This service features the most modern SPECT/CT hybrid gamma camera system in Pampanga, using the latest software from GE Healthcare System. SPECT allows the detection of abnormal processes in the body, but SPECT/CT shows where exactly the abnormalities are in the body. This also allows real-time visualization of disease processes not visible by conventional imaging like ultrasound, CT or MRI. Other services within Nuclear Imaging include:

• Bone Scan – Detect the presence of bone metastasis in the entire body
• Cardiac Scans – Shows which part of the heart is having problems with blood supply
• Dacryoscintigraphy – Helps determine the cause of excessive tearing
• Gastrointestinal Bleed Scan – Locates the site of active bleeding
• Renal Scan – Shows which kidney is problematic
• Thyroid Scans – Helps distinguish patients with Graves disease and those with thyroiditis

RADIONUCLIDE THERAPY

Radio-Iodine Therapy

• Standard of care in thyroid cancer patients after surgery
• Standard of care in patients with hyperthyroidism or a hyperfunctioning thyroid

Radionuclide Bone Pain Palliation

• MTCMC is the first medical center to offer this treatment outside Metro Manila
• Effective in affording palliative pain relief in patients with bone metastasis from cancer

 Radiosynovectomy

• MTCMC is the first medical center to offer this treatment outside Metro Manila
• Effective in affording months of pain relief in the following:

-Hemophiliac patients with bleeding joints

-Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis