New SPECT Camera Enhances Heart Diagnosis Efficiency in Brazil
The IAEA’s donation of a SPECT camera to a hospital in Niteroi, Brazil, has doubled capacity for heart scans, benefiting over two million residents. This enhancement plays a critical role in early detection of cardiovascular diseases, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing waiting times. The upgrade reflects IAEA’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access and quality in underserved areas.
A recent donation of a SPECT camera by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has significantly enhanced heart diagnostic capabilities at a busy hospital in Niteroi, Brazil. This advancement has effectively doubled the hospital’s capacity to perform heart scans, granting access to vital health services for over two million residents in the region. Cardiovascular diseases rank as the leading cause of death worldwide, necessitating early detection measures and specialized diagnostic techniques to combat cardiac-related mortality.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a highly regarded nuclear medicine technique that utilizes gamma rays for detailed 3D imaging, crucial in evaluating organ functions. Dr. Enrique Estrada Lobato, a nuclear medicine physician with the IAEA, stated, “In cardiology, SPECT tomography is standard to diagnose coronary artery disease and wall abnormalities,” emphasizing its role in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), a critical stress test for assessing blood flow to the heart muscle.
The Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro (HUAP) is Niteroi’s sole public facility with a nuclear medicine department. Prior to the upgrade, the hospital relied on an outdated single-headed gamma camera, resulting in long wait times and limited patient throughput. Claudio Tinoco Mesquita, the Associate Professor of Radiology at Universidade Federal Fluminense and head of nuclear medicine at HUAP, highlighted the inadequacies, mentioning that, “The old equipment served us well, but it could not deal with the increasing needs for exams in our region.”
Following in-depth IAEA QUANUM audits in 2013 and 2017, which assessed nuclear medicine practices, a recommendation for equipment enhancement was put forth. In 2022, Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission sought IAEA support for new technology, leading to the installation of a dual-head gamma camera equipped with IQ-SPECT at HUAP in August 2023.
Mesquita remarked on the transformation the new camera has brought, stating, “MPI scans that lasted over 20 minutes are now done in 6 to 7 minutes, and our waiting list is significantly shorter.” This upgrade has permitted the hospital to accommodate over 1,000 additional patients for nuclear medicine procedures within just ten months.
Moreover, the new equipment has facilitated advanced training programs for nuclear medicine professionals and initiated a residency program for medical physicists critical to the examination process. Mesquita reflected on the broader implications of this upgrade, stating, “This is a success story that connects the quest for quality and the fight to improve access to health services for poor people in Brazil.”
The IAEA continues to provide assistance through technical cooperation and human health programs aimed at integrating nuclear and radiation medicine for diagnosing and treating noncommunicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular conditions. The organization also advocates for quality management systems to enhance the effectiveness and safety of nuclear medicine services.
The recent donation of a SPECT camera by the IAEA has transformed the capabilities of the Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro in Niteroi, Brazil, significantly improving the speed and accessibility of cardiac diagnostics. Innovations in technology have reduced examination times and allowed for the treatment of more patients. This initiative exemplifies the IAEA’s commitment to uplifting healthcare standards and advancing access for underserved populations, ultimately contributing to a decrease in cardiac disease mortality rates.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
