Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is a discipline concentrating on use of radioactive agents or radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
Differentiation of benign and malignant masses in oncology cases, determining current stage of cancer, evaluating grades and internal spread of tumors, detecting metastases in the entire body and localizing the exact position of a tumor for precise radiotherapy applications are various objectives relying on nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.
Customized personal procedures performed at our radionuclide therapy unit emphasize the distinguished expertise of our hospital. Kidney-sparing methods are practiced for special patient groups and radiation dose is minimized in a controlled manner. Aside from radionuclide therapy, our clinic carries out palliative treatment of thyroid, prostate and neuroendocrine cancers, neuroblastomas, primary or metastatic liver tumors and bone metastasis. Specific types of lymphomas are treated as well.
Intraoperative gamma probes are utilized often in cases of head-neck and urogenital tumors, primarily breast cancer and malignant melanoma. Once the sentinel lymph node that is supplied by cancerous tissue has been radioactively marked, surgical excision of this node is facilitated with the help of the probe system.
Empowered by an outstanding team and top-of-the-line technology, the Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department of Koç University Hospital challenges diseases relevant to this discipline. Consolidated with sublime expertise, compassion and respect for human dignity, medical services are rendered at our center with the help of the most recent technologies and facilities.
Service Subcategories of the Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Department
- Diagnostic PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computerized tomography) scan
- Scintigraphy imaging (SPECT/CT, SPECT)
- Bone densitometry (DEXA)
- Urea breath test
- Intraoperative gamma probe
- Labeled leukocyte scintigraphy
- Radioiodine (low- and high-dose)
- Lutetium-177 PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen)
- Lutetium-177 peptide receptor
- Actinium-225
- Radium-223
- I-131 MIBG (radiopharmaceutical for treatment of malignant neuroectodermal tumors)
- Radioembolization
- RIA (radioimmune assay) laboratory (laboratory for testing procedures like auto-antibody in human serum, hormone and tumor markers)
- Radiopharmacy laboratory (laboratory where multiple molecules are prepared for imaging and treatment processes