The only cyclotron in the South "closed", how did it affect patients?

(Dan Tri) - The only cyclotron in the South located at Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) operated for the last time in early June before being temporarily shut down. However, PET/CT scans can still be performed for some diseases.

On June 21, a representative of Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) confirmed to Dan Tri reporter that the cyclotron located here - also the only cyclotron in the Southern region - has stopped operating to proceed with the construction of a new one. This process is expected to last 6 months.

This information makes many patients worried, because the above cyclotron, in addition to being used on-site, also provides radioactive isotopes to many other medical units to conduct PET/CT scans, a high-tech application in diagnosing and supporting the treatment of many diseases, including cancer.

Speaking to reporters, a source at Cho Ray Hospital said that the cyclotron located in the unit's Nuclear Medicine Department has been operating for more than 15 years, currently providing radioactive drugs to places such as Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, Military Hospital 175 ( Ministry of National Defense ), and provincial hospitals in Kien Giang.

Due to continuous operation for a long time, the furnace has often broken down in recent years. In addition, the technology and equipment of this cyclotron are now old, the manufacturer has developed more advanced technologies. It is necessary to stop operating to build a new, more modern and larger furnace.

A PET/CT scan at the Nuclear Medicine Department, Cho Ray Hospital (Photo: Doctor).

Before closing the old cyclotron on June 6, Cho Ray Hospital completed PET/CT scans for old treatment cases.

In addition, the Nuclear Medicine Department of Cho Ray Hospital still maintains PET/CT scans for cases of prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. The reason is that this place still has Gallium-68 radioactive generators imported from abroad, which can be used for a year (for about 500 cases).

In addition, current medical imaging diagnostic techniques such as CT and MRI in Vietnam have developed very well and the imaging is also basically convenient. People can choose these methods instead, with costs 1.5-2 times cheaper than PET/CT.

Therefore, doctors believe that patients will not be affected too much if PET/CT scans are temporarily interrupted.

“PET/CT will be slightly better in terms of metabolic imaging, in some cases screening will be more beneficial, convenient and time-saving, such as in lymphoma.

But if not, we can do CT and MRI scans, if compared, on a scale of 10, it is still 8-9 points compared to PET/CT. People do not need to worry too much," the doctor shared.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/lo-cyclotron-duy-nhat-phia-nam-dong-cua-benh-nhan-anh-huong-ra-sao-20250621121135404.htm