(4) Modern Imaging Modalities(2. Tomographic Imaging)

Abstract

In our country, there is acute shortage of resources including trained man power. Thus the idea of a comprehensive imaging center at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal was conceived. The resources were pooled at one place, which has proved quite convenient for the patients & staff besides being economical. Moreover, the atmospheric conditions for imaging equipments such as dust free environment, air conditioning, stabilized power supply with a standby diesel generator set could be made available at one place. This center is named as NMIC and consists of whole body CT, Gamma Camera and US machines along with few radiation monitoring equipments. The center started functioning from Oct. 1987 and since then about 12, 000 patients have been benefited. Though all the three modalities are being optimally utilized but the patients load is maximum on CT scanner. About 7000 patients have been scanned so far on CT out of which nearly 80% constitute Head Scanning. Comma finding in paediatric patients has been tuberculoma and Medulloblastoma. Astrocytoma & Glioma have been found in adults. Patients with spinal ailments and disorders in other body organs are getting full benefit of CT scanning. This in the only center in our country where we have CT & radioisotope scanning facility. Both static and dynamic nuclear scanning in available at the center. Ultrasonography has been particularly useful in abdominal scanning. A large number of patients with gall & kidney stones are diagnosed by this modality besides liver, pancreas, pelvis etc. Patients are being optionally benefitted at our imaging center, particularly because many patients diagnosis is better achieved by using one modality first and then subjecting to second or vice verse. At times all the three modalities of US, CT and Gamma Camera are required to arrive at a comprehensive diagnosis within shortest possible time.