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MCG course offers PET scan instruction
A new Medical College of
Georgia course offers compre
hensive training in one of the
most cutting-edge diagnostic
tools: the PET scanner.
PET (Positron Emission
Tomography) scanning de
tects chemical changes in tis
sues, enabling quick diagno
sis of certain diseases, includ
ing several kinds of cancer.
: Patients are injected with a
‘radioactive tracer that harm
lessly and painlessly identi
fies chemical processes that
signal disease. For instance,
the technology can determine
' how quickly body tissues me
tabolize glucose.
+ “Tumorstend tometabolize
‘glucose much faster than
‘healthy tissues,” said Mimi
Owen, program director of
-nuclear medicine technology
- in the Medical College of Geor
-gia Department of Radiologic
Sciences. “PET scansidentify
biochemical changes long be
‘fore there are anatomical
' changes [that signal disease],”
'she said.
- The technology’s most com
mon applicationistesting can
cer patients to determine as
early as possible whether the
cancer has spread. “Nation
wide studies show that pa
tient treatment is modified in
asmany as 30 percent of [can
cer] patients based on PET
scan results,” Ms. Owen said.
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Classified
~ Butthetechnologyrequires
expert handling, and the state
of Georgiahasa critical short
ageofdiagnosticimagingtech-
nologists, according to Dr.
Greg Passmore, chairman of
the MCG Department of Ra
diologic Sciences.
To help meet the need, the
department has developed a
course for its seniors offering
extensive education and clini
cal experience in PET scan
ning. The first three students
were enrolled this month.
“We'’re taking a comprehen
sive approach, rather than
teachinghow to push abutton
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Stroke attacks the brain.
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MC
Neuroscience Center
or take a picture,” said Ms.
Owen. “A lot of complex edu
cation is required, including
an understanding of physics,
chemistry, electronics and
biophysiology. It’s one thing
to do a good job [PET scan
ning] when everything goes
right. Our graduates will rec
ognize when things need
trouble-shooting. There is no
real cookbook approach tothis
since there are so many vari
ables.”
The students will receive
classroom instruction on cam
pus and clinical experience at
the Emory PET Core Center
in Atlanta. The department
also is working closely with
MCG physicist Z.J. Cao,
radiopharmacist Jim Corley
and radiologists to optimize
the instruction.
To further alleviate the
statewide shortage, the de
partment will offer the class
room portion of the course
work to up to 40 practicing
technologists a year as a con
tinuing-education course, Dr.
Passmore said. “Thisis really
astatewideinitiative,”hesaid.
Syncor International Corp.
has donated about $250,000
worth of educational materi
als to supplement the course
work. “All ofthe materials are
specific to the technologist’s
needs and will be very help
ful,” Ms. Owen said.
CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE
FAMILY MEDICINE
Dr. Priya S. Deshpande is a family physician at
CPC-Central near Doctors Hospital. She cares
for family members of all ages and has a special
interest in women’s health care and pediatrics.
To make an appointment with Dr. Deshpande,
call (706) 868-7380.
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Stroke, also known as a “brain attack,” interrupts blood flow to ?
the brain, starving the brain of oxygen and affecting its ability ;
to function. Suddenly, you may be unable to do the simplest {
things, such as tie your shoe or read a book. The symptoms of t
stroke are subtle, so someone having a stroke may seem confused F
or disoriented and not even be aware that a stroke is occurring. },:'
: V
The five most common stroke symptoms are: b
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Sudden numbness or weakness in face, arm, leg or one }
side of the body ‘:
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding ,i
i
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes H
K
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance 4
Sudden severe headache
MCG - The area’s only 24-hour ;
comprehensive Stroke Team .
Stroke is a medical emergency. That's why our Stroke Team is
available 24 hours a day for accurate diagnosis and prompt
treatment, which greatly reduces your chance of having f:
permanent disability. MCG's Neuroscience Center is a nationally
recognized leader in quality stroke care and serves as a model ]
for stroke centers nationwide. If you suspect someone is having i
a stroke, get him or her to a hospital as soon as possible.
For more information about stroke and stroke prevention,
call 721-CARE or visit our website at www.MCGHealth.org. 3
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Priya S. Deshpande, MD
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