Spitalul Municipal Timișoara implements PET-CT technology

Spitalul Municipal Timișoara has expanded its nuclear medicine services by implementing PET-CT technology. The equipment, acquired through European funds via the Large Infrastructure Operational Program, is primarily intended for oncology and hematology patients to assist in diagnosis, disease staging, treatment response evaluation, and monitoring for recurrences.

The PET-CT system utilizes hybrid technology, combining metabolic information obtained through PET with anatomical images provided by low-dose CT scans. While primarily used for cancer, the method can also be applied to cardiovascular and neurological conditions, such as dementia or epilepsy, as well as identifying unknown infections.

Currently, the service is available for hospitalized patients following medical recommendation. In a future stage, the service will be accessible to outpatients via appointment and referral, with reimbursement through the National Health Insurance House (CNAS). The scanning process itself takes approximately 20 minutes, though the total hospital stay including preparation averages two hours.