Cancer detection to be easier in city

Bangalore is all set to join an exclusive league of Indian cities with a cyclotron for medical purposes.

Two institutions "" Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Bangalore Institute of Oncology "" have tied up to set up a cyclotron-cum-PET-CT facility (positron emission tomography along with a CT Scan) in Bangalore.

A cyclotron is a particle accelerator used for producing radio isotopes which can be used for medical purposes. A PET-CT helps in the detection and management of cancer, cardiac and neurological disorders.

A PET-CT produces images much faster and in much greater detail than an MRI. PET-CT helps detect many cases of cancer gone undetected even by an MRI scan, said Dr B S Ajai Kumar, chairman, Bangalore Institute of Oncology.

A PET-CT functions by use of extremely short-lived isotopes. Since the life of these isotopes are limited to a maximum of one and half hours, they cannot be procured from abroad and have to be produced at the premises of the cancer facilities. These isotopes are produced by a cyclotron.

The cyclotron along with the PET-CT facilities will cost Rs 30 crore, said Audikesavulu, MP and chairman, Vydehi Institute, Whitefield.