PET/CT Nuclear Medicine System to Improve Cancer Detection and Treatment in Tunisia

The delivery of the first combined Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography (PET/CT) advanced imaging system to Tunisia is set to benefit cancer patients in the country.

The system combines CT technology, which can accurately localize a tumor, with nuclear medicine (PET), which provides radiologists with information about the behavior of the cancer. Cancer mortality is increasing in Tunisia, and it is already the second most common non-infectious disease in the country.

The GE Healthcare (Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, UK) PET/CT machine was installed at the CERU Nuclear Medicine Center (Tunis, Tunisia). CERU is Tunisia’s largest private center providing clinical radiology, and nuclear medicine treatments. Oncologists are using the new system to monitor and assess therapeutic responses to cancer treatments. GE Healthcare has committed USD1 billion globally to advance oncology solutions in 2016.

The PET/CT system received regulatory authorization by the Tunisian authorities in September 2015, and has already treated more than 100 patients. PET/CT also enables oncologists to track how a patient is responding to treatment, in the early stages of the disease, and change the treatment regime if necessary.

Farid Fezoua, president, and CEO, GE Healthcare in Africa, said, “GE is proud to have been selected by CERU as the key technology provider by for this important program. GE Healthcare is committed to serving its customers through partnerships and solutions offerings aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable healthcare in Tunisia.”

Related Links:
GE Healthcare
CERU Nuclear Medicine Center