Image of the Year 1999

Knoxville, Tenn., June 15, 1999-New detector technology developed by CTI PET Systems, Inc. (CPS), produced the prestigious "Image of the Year" that was awarded to David Townsend, Ph.D., and the University of Pittsburgh at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 46th Annual Meeting. The1999 Image of the Year was produced using a combined state-of-the art Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and a true diagnostic quality Computed Tomography (CT) scanner.

This is the second year in a row that images from CPS have been awarded this honor. At the Society's closing summation, SNM president Dr. Henry N. Wagner Jr., Professor of Radiology, Medicine & Radiation Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, announced that the images produced from the PET/CT imager developed by CPS,earned the distinction "Image of the Year."

Wagner also awarded "Research Image of the Year" in recognition of the work of Simon Cherry, Ph.D., at UCLA using a microPET scanner equipped with LSO scintillators developed by CTI on a gene expression imaging study.

Of the PET/CT image, Dr. Wagner said, "One of the most exciting developments in Nuclear Medicine, and one of enormous significance is the merging, not of images, but of imagers. The impact of the work done by Dr. David Townsend and his colleagues using clinically acceptable CT to gather anatomic information, then acquiring physiological information via PET, cannot be understated. It's not just that the CT anatomic information is important, it can also be used to correct for attenuation in the emission images. It has such important significance to nuclear medicine that I have awarded this image 'Image of the Year'."

According to Dr. Townsend, "Despite the increased availability of effective cancer treatment, early detection of malignancy remains a crucial factor in patient survival. Initial diagnosis and staging of tumors are commonly based on morphological changes seen on CT scans. However, PET can differentiate malignant tissue from benign tissue and is a more effective tool in the search for metastases. Clearly, valuable information can be found in both, and by merging the two we can now view morphological and physiological information in one place. I truly believe with PET/CT you can improve on each of the technologies applied."

Putting the first PET/CT scanner system into context, Dr. Ronald Nutt, CTI's Senior Vice President and Technology Director said, "Our advanced development in this area has led us well beyond what other manufacturers are only now trying to achieve. Our philosophy has always been to break new technological ground and to refine these concepts so as to define the future of diagnostic imaging."

"We were the first to develop the integrated concept and install it in a clinical setting, and are now the first to produce peer-recognized diagnostic-quality images from this technology." said Terry Douglass, President, CTI, Inc. "The images and diagnostic information from this device have already created a huge interest from many centers around the world. Last year we received 'Image of the Year' for images produced by our LSO/NaI PET/SPECT system, proving again that innovation is at the forefront of our philosophy. At this year's meeting we also presented the first LSO images from PET/SPECT technology demonstrating our leadership position in new detector technology development."

The PET/CT prototype combines the power of the Siemens Somatom AR.SP (CT) and the ECAT ART (PET). To acquire the PET/CT image, a patient passes through the CT portion of the scanner first and then passes through the PET scanner where the metabolic information is gathered. When the patient has passed through both portions of the scanner a merged image is created.

CTI, Inc., the world leader in PET products and services, is dedicated to making positron imaging a widely used primary clinical modality. CTI's subsidiaries produce ECAT tomographs, RDS cyclotrons, and LSO, a new scintillator material for photon detection over a wide range of energies. CTI also operates PET pharmaceutical distribution centers through its PETNet affiliate. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, CTI was founded in 1983 and employs about 250 people worldwide.