Bahrain to get nuclear lifesaving technology.

(Dateline: Manama )

A multi-million-dollar, lifesaving technology using nuclear energy will be set up soon in Bahrain, it has been revealed.

The positron emission tomography (PET) scanning facility produces a three-dimensional image of functional processes in the body.

It is used heavily in clinical oncology, including medical imaging of tumours and the search for metastases, and for clinical diagnosis of certain brain diseases.

PET is also an important research tool to map normal human brain and heart functions.

Health Ministry public and international relations director Adel Ali Abdulla said a decision had been taken to procure the extremely advanced equipment, but that they were waiting for an approval from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He was speaking on the sidelines of a regional workshop to define studies, strategies, and communication techniques for stakeholder involvement in nuclear programmes, being held at the Mercure Grand Hotel, Seef.

The three-day event is organised by the Health Ministry with the support of the IAEA.

'The PET scan is a unique type of imaging test that helps doctors see how the organs and tissues inside a human body are actually functioning,' said Abdulla.

'The test involves injecting a very small dose of a radioactive chemical, called a radiotracer, into the vein of a patient's arm.

'The tracer travels through the body and is absorbed by the organs and tissues being studied.'

He said this scan can detect the 'minutest' of malfunctions in the body much before the symptoms become visible.

'Bahrain will only be the second GCC nation to have the facility after Saudi Arabia, which has only one such machine,' said Abdulla.

'This will be a huge boost for medicine in the country and will help cut down on the prevalence of some life-threatening illnesses.'

He said a PET scan could measure vital functions such as blood flow, oxygen use, and glucose metabolism, which helps doctors identify abnormal from normal functioning organs and tissues.

'The scan can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a patient's treatment plan, allowing the course of care to be adjusted if necessary,' said Abdulla.

He said currently, PET scans were most commonly used to detect cancer, heart problems such as coronary artery disease and damage to the heart following a heart attack, brain disorders that include brain tumours, memory disorders, seizures and other central nervous system disorders.

'This is important and unique because the disease processes often begin with functional changes at the cellular level,' said Abdulla.

He said a PET scan could often detect very early changes, whereas a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan detect a little later as the disease begins to cause changes in the structure of organs or tissues.

'Since the setting up of such a facility involves the use of radioactive material, we have to seek the approval of the IAEA,' said Abdulla.

'We see no real glitch in that and are going ahead with our plans.'

He said, however, there was no time frame for when the facility would be ready.

'It should be able to serve the people of Bahrain soon,' he said.- TradeArabia News Service

Copyright 2008 www.tradearabia.com

Copyright 2009 Al Hilal Publishing & Marketing Group

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company