Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics

Gamma Camera Scans

What is a Gamma Camera/SPECT?

In cancer care, gamma cameras and SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) are essential nuclear medicine tools that offer useful, three-dimensional imaging for detecting tumours, staging cancers, and monitoring treatment efficacy. These help identify bone metastases, sentinel lymph nodes, and direct targeted therapies as they detect metabolic changes before structural changes manifest.

They are commonly recommended for tumours/cancers of the breast, bone, thyroid, and brain.

SPECT/CT Fusion: Frequently used adjunctively with CT scans (SPECT/CT) to increase diagnostic accuracy by providing both functional and detailed anatomical information.

Key role in Oncology:
  • Tumours that have spread to the bones (metastases) can be found using bone scans that are extremely sensitive in identifying regions of elevated metabolism
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Detection: Particularly in cases of breast cancer, mobile gamma cameras are used either before or during the surgery to identify the first lymph node or nodes to which the cancer has spread
  • Imaging tumours: Detects functional tumour alterations in a variety of cancers (lung cancer, thyroid, and neuroendocrine tumours)
  • Functional (SPECT) and anatomical (CT) imaging are combined in hybrid imaging (SPECT/CT) to improve diagnostic accuracy and allow for accurate abnormality localisation
Advantages:
  • Early Detection: Recognises metabolic alterations before the manifestation of physical anatomical changes
  • Treatment assesses how well a patient is reacting to therapies such as radiation or chemotherapy
  • Small amounts of radioactive tracers are used, and they usually leave the body in 24 to 48 hours, making the process safe and non-invasive
At Zydus Cancer Hospital, we use Gamma Camera Scans for:
  • Genitourinary
  • Endocrine
  • Brain
  • Hepatobiliary
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Respiratory
  • Cardiac
  • Bone Scan
  • Lymphoscintigraphy and more

Zydus Cancer Hospital is a comprehensive cancer hospital that uses Gamma Camera/SPECT to provide high precision of cancer staging, and proves invaluable for developing personalised patient treatment plans. Our experts are highly qualified and trained in therapeutic nuclear medicine, brain-cardiac-oncology PET and have also performed unique gamma camera procedures.