Embargoed until 0005 hours, Wednesday 30 October, 2002
October 29, 2002
Aberdeen launch for NHS Advice on
PET imaging for cancer
(10.15am, Wednesday 30 October, John Mallard Scottish PET Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)
The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) will today (October 30) be launching its Advice on
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging in cancer at the University of Aberdeen’s John Mallard
Scottish PET Centre. It will be recommending a PET imaging facility is set up as a national resource for
people in Scotland with cancer.
PET is a new medical imaging technique that produces images showing the body’s biochemistry and is
unique in that PET images show how the body works. In the past it has only been available in Scotland for
research.
Scientists in the University’s Department of Biomedical Physics and Bioengineering have been convinced
about the value of PET for medical diagnosis and treatment for a number of years. In 1998 they set up the
first PET centre in Scotland. The £3 million state-of-the-art facility was named after John Mallard, who while
Professor of Medical Physics at Aberdeen, was responsible for the invention of many new medical imaging
techniques, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
HTBS was set up to advise the NHS on the potential value of drugs and technologies. In their advice, they
conclude that in cancer, PET is more accurate than conventional X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging
for certain purposes and can help to ensure that patients with cancer get the most effective treatment. They
recommend that PET imaging should be used in people with Hodgkin’s disease and further research should
be carried out to see how it can contribute to the more effective management of other cancers, including
other types of lymphoma, lung cancer, melanoma and head and neck cancer.
Professor Peter Sharp, Head of the Department of Biomedical Physics and Bioengineering, at the University
of Aberdeen, chaired the expert working group that advised the HTBS on this report.
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He said: “We set up the PET Centre in Aberdeen since, as scientists, we were convinced that it had much to
offer the NHS. I am pleased that this view is supported by the HTBS who have done one of the most indepth investigations on its clinical value. In Scotland, approximately 26,000 people are diagnosed with
cancer each year. Cancer is the country’s leading cause of premature death. If we can use PET to improve
the management of this disease then our work in setting up the Centre and championing PET in Scotland
will have been worthwhile.”
Dr Andy Welch, Director of the PET Centre, added: “I am delighted with this report. It has been frustrating to
have this technology available in Aberdeen and yet be unable to offer it to NHS patients in Scotland. We are
optimistic that this report will eventually lead to PET imaging being available to cancer patients in the NHS.
We have spare capacity on our imager and will be able to image patients as soon as the findings of this
report are implemented.”
ENDS
Note to Editors:
Media are invited to attend the launch at the John Mallard Scottish PET Centre, Aberdeen
Royal Infirmary, at 10.15am, Wednesday 30 October.
Copies of Health Technology Assessment Advice 2: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging
in cancer management will be available at the launch and on the HTBS website: www.htbs.co.uk
Launch Agenda
10.15am
10.30am
Coffee and tea on arrival.
Welcome (Professor Angus Mackay, HTBS Chairman).
PET imaging (Professor Peter Sharp, Head of Medical Physics, Aberdeen
University and Grampian University Hospitals).
HTBS Advice (Professor Karen Facey, HTBS Director).
10.50am
Following time for questions, there will be a tour of the PET facility.
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PET imaging process
1. A person who has a PET examination will be injected with a small amount of a radiotracer,
which is a sugar molecule combined with a radioactive element called fluorine-18 (known
as FDG). After an hour, the radiotracer will have reached any tumour cells in the body. The
person then lies on a bed, which slides partly into the PET imager so that the part of their
body being examined is within the machine.
Cancer
1. In Scotland approximately 26,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Cancer is
the country’s leading cause of premature death.
2. Hodgkin’s disease is a type of lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes that
accounts for approximately 4% of cancers in Scotland. It tends to affect younger people.
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped organs found throughout the lymphatic system (the
tissues and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes, that
produce and store cells that fight infection and disease).
3. The HTBS Advice relates to PET that uses FDG and is very specific about the point in a
person’s treatment when PET should be used.
Costs
1. The initial capital outlay for a fully equipped PET imager is approximately £4.2 million. The
annual running costs will be approximately £1.02 million.
Health Technology Assessment
1. HTBS used an internationally recognised process called Health Technology Assessment to
form its advice. This took account of the medical, social, ethical, and economic implications
of using PET imaging in cancer.
2. It brought together the views and needs of people with cancer and the judgement of health
professionals, while considering the way NHS Scotland is organised.
3. The assessment included a six-week consultation period, during which HTBS held a public
meeting and received 24 formal consultation comments.
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College,
Aberdeen. Tel: (01224) 273778 Fax: (01224) 272086
Contact: Angela Begg.
Ref: 1070PET
October 29, 2002
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