Patient Lauds PET/CT Imaging Services

Morrill resident Steve Dolberg is no stranger to X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans. From cancer, multiple surgeries, a bout of sepsis, chemotherapy, long-term hospitalizations, and a stint at Regional West’s Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU), he has spent more time in Regional West’s Imaging Services department than most people. 

As someone who has had PET imaging performed numerous times over the years, Steve reflected on the differences between Regional West’s mobile PET scan unit and the new permanent PET/CT suite.

Affectionately calling it the ‘tin can,’ Steve said that, while he was grateful that mobile PET imaging has been offered at Regional West for well over a decade, going from the main hospital to the mobile unit, then back to the main hospital when imaging was complete was “not enjoyable,” especially when the weather was snowy or stormy. 

Regional West’s PET/CT suite is now located in Regional West Medical Plaza South and features a Siemens Biograph mCT PET/CT machine, offering full diagnostic CT capability, lower radiation doses and exposure, and increased image quality and scan speeds. Specialty PET/CT exams, such as prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT exams, and Cu-64 Detectnet (Dotatate) scans for neuroendocrine tumors, are also available.

“Now, we can check in online for imaging, which I really appreciate,” said Steve. “Plus, the old PET scanner took over a half hour – with the new one, I’m done in 20 minutes or so.” 

Steve lauds the images from the new CT/PET scanner, and said that a physician in Ft. Collins, Colorado, to whom he was referred, couldn’t get over the high resolution images from the new scanner. He said the physician jokingly said he was going to send all his patients to Regional West for PET scans since the image quality was so good. 

Dolberg says he knows he’s in good hands when he’s a patient in Regional West’s Imaging Services. “The technologists there are good people,” he said. “Nice, concerned, and professional.”