Clinical Services

Based in University College Hospital in Euston, our institute is the largest single-site Nuclear Medicine department in the UK. We provide world class clinical services for patients.

We are the first UK site to be audited twice by the British Nuclear Medicine Society and accredited by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine. We have a continuous and vigorous Governance, Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programme, and our patient services are checked by internationally renowned specialists.

Our equipment

The Institute of Nuclear Medicine at University College Hospital was the first UK site to set up clinical PET/CT and PET/MR services. These continue to offer excellent options for patients. See more about our facilities and expertise.

Our services

  1. Cardiac
  2. Neurology
  3. Oncology
  4. Radionuclide Therapy
  5. Diagnostic Tests
  6. Laboratory Tests
  7. Therapy Tests

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Cardiac

Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy

We offer state-of-the-art myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging using a novel, dedicated cardiac system with solid-state detectors which enables faster imaging at lower radiation doses.

Myocardial Perfusion PET

Myocardial perfusion PET using Rubidium-82, enables faster imaging at lower radiation doses even in patients with high BMIs. It is often combined with CT coronary angiography to provide both perfusion and anatomy in a hybrid imaging test.

Myocardial Viability PET imaging

Myocardial viability PET imaging with FDG helps predict functional improvement before revascularization.

CT Calcium scoring

Calcification of the coronary arteries is a sign of atherosclerotic disease and can be quantified using multi-slice computed tomography (CT). We provide same-day calcium scoring as the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic to rule out coronary artery disease in low-risk patients.

CT coronary angiography

CT coronary angiography Is provided for patients with suspected CAD, to evaluate disease progression, and to establish the need for revascularization. CT can also be used to assess the function of the heart, the anatomy of the heart, and the degree of coronary calcification in the heart.

References

Sharir T, et al. Multicentre trial of high-speed versus conventional single-photon emission computed tomography imaging: quantitative results of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function. J Am Coll Cardiol, 55, 1965-1974 (2010).

S Ben-Haim et al. Simultaneous dual-radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging with a solid-state dedicated cardiac camera. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging, 37, 1710-1721 (2010).

Groves AM, et al. Cardiac 82Rubidium PET/CT: initial European experience. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging, 2007 Dec;34(12):1965-72.

Groves AM, et al. First experience of combined cardiac PET/64-detector CT angiography with invasive angiographic validation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging, 36, 2027-2033 (2009).

Menezes LJ, et al. Assessment of left ventricular function at rest using rubidium-82 myocardial perfusion PET: comparison of four software algorithms with simultaneous 64-slice coronary CT angiography. Nucl Med Commun, 30, 918-925 (2009).

Groves AM, et al. CT coronary angiography: quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion using test bolus data-initial experience. Eur Radiol,18, 2155-2163 (2008).

Neurology

With our state-of-the-art equipment, such as SPECT/CT, PET/CT and the first PET/MRI installation in the UK, we sit at the leading edge of neuroimaging applications. Current investigations performed at the centre include:

  • DaTScan imaging for Parkinsonian syndromes and to differentiate between Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia

The Institute has been active in this area since the onset of this technology and has been involved in many key publications and research collaborations since.

  • Imaging of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Fronto-Temporal Dementia using FDG PET and new Beta-Amyloid Plaque imaging agents.

The introduction of PET/MRI for this application has provided a powerful combination of fused anatomical and functional data from MRI, with the early signs of disease that are only available with PET imaging.

  • Primary and metastatic Brain cancers

The use of different tracers within the department such as Fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG), Fluorothymidine (FLT), Fluorocholine and Gallium-68 Neuropeptides offer a wide and varied range of probes to detect and characterize brain tumours.

  • Epilepsy Imaging

We have extensive experience in FDG brain PET imaging to lateralize and/or find the focus of epileptic fits. This has been recently enhanced by the introduction of simultaneous PET and MRI on our PET/MRI scanner. We are currently setting up an ictal/inter-ictal SPECT service for epileptic focus localization. Prof. Peter Ell, and Dr John Dickson provide substantial experience in the interpretation and development of neuroimaging. We collaborate with neurologists based at Queen Square (London) and beyond.

Oncology

We provide a high quality and comprehensive cancer imaging service using the latest imaging technologies, including the UK’s first PET-MRI scanner.

We can detect and localise lesions using combined anatomical and functional imaging with SPECT-CT and PET-CT. As well as tumour imaging with 18-FDG we routinely utilise other PET tracers including 68 Ga-DOTATATE, 18F-Choline and 18-Fluoride.

We provide a unique PET somatostatin receptor imaging service using an onsite 68Ga generator for labelling of octreotide ligands.

We have also performed the largest number of 18F-Choline PET-CT scans in the UK for patients with prostate carcinoma.

We accept referrals and working closely with clinical partners in nearby NHS trusts and also over a wider geographical area.

Radionuclide Therapy

Radionuclide therapy is an established practice within University College London Hospital. We have 10 dedicated rooms for radionuclide therapy. These are state-of-the-art, en-suite and lead-lined with a separate room situated adjacent that is designated for comforters and carers.

We receive referrals both nationally and internationally for the treatment of a range of conditions including neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), thyroid carcinoma, meningioma and pituitary tumours. We also provide conventional radioiodine therapy on an out-patient basis for the treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

We are one of only two centres in the UK to offer paediatric radionuclide therapy.

We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging assessment to monitor eligibility for radionuclide therapy, incorporating 123I-mIBG (Metaiodobenzylguanidine) scintigraphy, 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PETCT. Assessments can be performed on the PET/MR machine located in the UCLH cancer centre.

Referrals for therapy are discussed in multidisciplinary meetings comprising a range of medical, scientific and technical staff, where case histories are reviewed together with imaging studies.

A recent addition to the service is the use of 177Lu-DOTATATE therapy to treat patients with Neuroblastomas. 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT is used to scan children with neuroblastoma and identify those suitable for radionuclide therapy with 177Lu-DOTATATE. We have shown, for what is to our knowledge the first time, that treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE is safe and feasible in children with relapsed or primary refractory high-risk neuroblastomas.

Diagnostic Tests

Brain

  • Brain Imaging (Thallium) for tumour
  • Brain Perfusion Imaging-Ceretec (HMPAO)
  • Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)
  • DATScan (Brain dopamine transporter imaging)

Cardiac

  • MIBG Cardiac Imaging
  • MUGA (Radionuclide Ventricular Function Study)
  • MUGA Tomo with Stress (Radionuclide Ventricular Function Study)
  • MUGA Tomo(Radionuclide Ventricular Function Study)
  • MUGA with Stress (Radionuclide Ventricular Function Study)
  • Myocardial Perfusion - price per study

CT

  • CT Angiography
  • CT Calcium Score
  • CT Diagnostic
  • CT Diagnostic with IV contrast
  • CT Perfusion
  • CT Perfusion

Endocrine

  • 123- Whole Body Scans
  • 123-I Thyroid Uptake and Imaging
  • 131-I Whole Body Survey
  • Parathyroid Imaging
  • Technetium Thyroid Uptake and Imaging

Gastro-Intestinal

  • Gastro-Intestinal Bleed (RBC)
  • HIDA (Biliary Tree Imaging)

Lymph

  • Lymphoscintigraphy
  • SLN Study Breast
  • SLN Study Melanoma
  • SLN Study Penile
  • SLN Study Vulva

PET/CT

  • F- PET/CT (Bone)
  • FDG PET/CT
  • FDOPA PET/CT
  • Ga Citrate PET/CT
  • Ga Octreotide PET/CT
  • Paediatric F- PET/CT (Bone)
  • Paediatric FDGPET/CT

Renal

•    DMSA Renal Study
•    MAG3 Dynamic Renal Scan
•    MAG3 Dynamic Renal Scan + Bladder Emptying
•    MAG3 Dynamic Renal Scan + Captopril

Bone

  • Bone scan with SPECT/CT
  • Bone density

Other

  • Adrenal Imaging
  • Gastric Emptying
  • HIDA (Biliary Tree Imaging )
  • Lacrimal Scan (Dacroscintigraphy)
  • Leveen Shunt
  • Liver Imaging
  • Lung VQ Scan
  • Meckels Scan
  • MIBG Imaging
  • Pentavalent DMSA (DMSA(V))
  • Salivary Gland Imaging
  • SEHCAT
  • Spleen Imaging (Denatured RBC)
  • White Cell Infection Study

Laboratory Tests

  • GFR (Chromium-51 EDTA)
  • Plasma Bound Iodine
  • Plasma Volume Study 125I-HSA
  • Red Cell Mass Study 246

Therapy Tests

  • 131-I Thyrotoxicosis Therapy
  • Bone Pain Therapy (153Sm EDTMP)
  • MIBG Therapy
  • Pain Palliation (Strontium Therapy)
  • Radiation Synovectomy
  • Rhenium Therapy
  • Whole Body Scan Ony - Iodine 131