Willis Knighton Health in Shreveport has opened its new $7 million nuclear oncology department. Medical Director of Radiation Oncology Dr. Lane Rosen says the Willis Knighton Cancer Center now has the most advanced molecular imaging tools in the country for delivery and monitoring of radiopharmaceutical treatment. As the Louisiana Radio Network reports, Rosen explained, “I think it’s going to attract patients from around the state because we’ll have access to clinical trials and all these sort of advancements that smaller centers, or centers with less resources just can’t do.”
The expansion includes two significant pieces of equipment. The Siemens Biograph Vision PET Scan, which is the only one in the state. The other new tool is called Star Guide which is a GE SPECT CT scan.
Rosen says the advanced technology permits far more precise treatments. “So the surrounding healthy tissue gets much less dose, so it tends to be very well tolerated, in fact in some of the early studies there were less side effects.” And Rosen concludes nuclear oncology, known as theranostics, will be one of the standards of treatment for cancer within ten years.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, and a graduate of the University of Washington, Jeff began his on-air broadcasting career 33 years ago in the Black Hills of South Dakota as a general assignment reporter.
Vice President of News, Sports, & Affiliate Relations Louisiana Radio Network.