
Mimbres Memorial Hospital officials announced that the local hospital has a new nuclear imaging system for the radiology department.
With the new gamma camera, the hospital can perform non-invasive, highly advanced diagnostic imaging that can be used for diagnosis and treatment planning on a system that has shorter exam times, increased patient comfort and exposure to a smaller radiation dose.
Nuclear imaging allows clinicians to see how a part of the body is functioning at the metabolic level, which means a patient may be able to avoid a biopsy or an invasive surgical procedure.
Nuclear imaging reportedly is an important diagnostic technology for lung, breast, liver and other types of cancer.
It also is useful for common applications such as cardiac, bone, pulmonary, brain, thyroid and renal imaging.
The new system allows clinicians to generate 3D images that show activity within structures deep inside the body.