HCG Adds a New Dimension to Diagnosis; Myocardial Blood Flow for the First Time in Asia

Bangalore, India, July 04, 2010 --(PR.com)-- HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG), South Asia’s largest cancer care network, today unveiled the PET Myocardial Blood Flow (MBF) System that offers clinicians a non-invasive method to determine true myocardial blood flow and accurately assess the need for revascularization procedures such as stenting and bypass surgery. With this HCG has reiterated its commitment to bring cutting edge technology and enable its consultants to offer timely & precise diagnosis & manage disorders. HCG is the only hospital in the whole of Asia to have this kind of facility offering MBF. This is possible due to on-site availability of medical cyclotron and very high end mCT (molecular CT) which boasts of having 128 slice PETCT and advanced cardiac software applications such as MBF quantification.

For the oncology major, the commissioning of MBF opens an exciting new dimension in quantitative metabolic imaging and also marks its foray into cardiology diagnosis. The MBF provides an absolute measure for blood flow in the myocardium to assess perfusion that hitherto remained undetected with conventional relative perfusion imaging. This standard single procedure is also fast that takes no longer than 30 minutes and is also very safe and OPD procedure.

The launch of PET MBF has been timed just before the Doctors Day as the entire team at HCG - including medical and non-medical staff – are keen that Cardiologists and Physicians from across the city take time out for their own well being and have a reality check of their heart. As a special gesture HCG would offer this service free of cost to all doctors for a week.

According to Dr Ajai Kumar, Chairman HCG, “We have a vision to be at the fore front of technology and introduce revolutionary diagnostic and treatment equipment at our centres. This launch is yet another milestone as we step beyond oncology and foray into cardiology diagnosis”. Further, he added “with diabetic incidence increasing exponentially in India the risk of micro vascular disease amongst this group is particularly high and MBF System is the only way to ascertain the hearts health”.

Detailing the advantages of MBF System, Dr Kallur, Director, Molecular Imaging at HCG said "We are the first centre in Asia to offer quantification of MBF for a Cardiologist, which is also called as FFR (Fractional Flow Reserve). At present FFR is done by only few cardiologists in India and it is invasive. At HCG MBF test is absolutely non-invasive and very safe. MBF test is expected to become a Gold Standard in evaluating the need for re-vascularisation procedures such as angioplasty, stenting and CABG in indeterminate blocks in the coronary arteries”.

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