The only cyclotron in the South has been replaced, meeting 10 PET/CT systems

(Dan Tri) - The new cyclotron, once completed, can provide radioactive substances to dozens of places for PET/CT scans. Cho Ray Hospital also spent hundreds of billions of VND on purchasing a cyclotron system.

On June 23, the leader of Cho Ray Hospital (HCMC) provided detailed information about the temporary suspension of the cyclotron at this location - also the only cyclotron in the Southern region - which has caused a stir in public opinion recently.

Specialist Doctor 2 Pham Thanh Viet, Deputy Director of Cho Ray Hospital, shared that the unit's cyclotron has been operating for 17 years. The furnace operates to provide radioactive substances for PET/CT scans, thereby helping to assess the possibility of metastasis and the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

Because it is too old, the machine often breaks down and has to stop working every few days. This affects patients a lot, as some people have already made an appointment but have to wait.

A PET/CT scan case at Cho Ray Hospital (Photo: Hospital).

Recently, the Hospital has planned to replace the new furnace with the most modern system available. This is also an opportunity for the unit to update the latest advanced techniques.

In addition to on-site use, Cho Ray Hospital also supplies radioactive substances to places such as Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, Military Hospital 175 and Kien Giang Provincial Hospital. In total, about 50 patients receive PET/CT scans every day using radioactive substances produced by the only cyclotron in the Southern region.

According to Dr. Viet, there are some specific cancers that require PET/CT scans, but in most cases, other simpler, lower-cost methods can be used to assess metastasis or treatment effectiveness, such as CT, MRI or ultrasound (with evaluation effectiveness estimated to be 80-90% compared to PET/CT).

“PET/CT is a valuable diagnostic evaluation method, not a treatment intervention device. And there is no case that requires this method,” Dr. Viet affirmed.

PET/CT is a valuable method for diagnosing cancer (Photo: BV).

According to Dr. Viet, to build a replacement cyclotron, the hospital still has to comply with bidding and procurement regulations. And because it is only installing a replacement with existing old infrastructure, it is expected that Cho Ray Hospital will complete the project within 6 months, faster than building a completely new one.

“The capacity of the new furnace when completed will be many times larger than the old one. Previously, the cyclotron furnace only supplied 3 places and was sluggish, but with the new system, it will be able to supply over 10 PET/CT systems.

“If we continue to maintain the existing furnace, people will have to use old, poor quality technology. Therefore, replacing the furnace with a new one is a very necessary thing to do,” said the Deputy Director of Cho Ray Hospital.

When put into operation, the cyclotron is expected to provide radioactive substances many times better than the old reactor (Illustration: BV).

Before stopping the old cyclotron in early June, 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).

Hundreds of billions of dong spent on purchasing cyclotron systems

According to the results of the selection of contractors to implement the Project of Purchasing medical equipment, renovating and repairing Cho Ray Hospital, Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company won the package "Procurement of Cyclotron System and accompanying synchronous auxiliary equipment" (worth nearly 200 billion VND).

IMED Medical Equipment Company Limited won the package "Purchase of photon counting technology computed tomography system" (worth 106 billion VND).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/lo-cyclotron-duy-nhat-phia-nam-duoc-thay-moi-dap-ung-10-he-thong-petct-20250623160619964.htm