HOUSTON—Park Plaza Hospital announced the addition of GE’s new Discovery ST PET/CT emission technology system, a non-invasive tool that offers early detection of cancer.  The new Discovery ST will enhance diagnostic imaging capabilities.

The PET and CT is an advanced imaging procedure that fuses images and captures essential information providing physicians with information about the body’s chemistry, cell function and location of the disease. The Discovery ST provides early identification of possible cancer, indicated by areas of increased cellular activity through PET. This metabolic information indicates whether a cancer is growing slowly or aggressively. The precise CT information communicates the size and location of a lesion and the surrounding anatomical structure. When fused as one, you receive a profile of the disease, helping to effectively plan the course of treatment. 

For oncology patients, using the combined PET/CT scanner can improve the accuracy of identifying the presence or absence of cancers. Its use may help determine the location and stage of cancerous tissue and may potentially prevent unnecessary surgery, biopsies and inappropriate treatments. “PET/CT will have a major impact on our clinical evaluations of cancer patients, and in many cases may enable our physicians to begin treatment earlier and may increase the odds for successful patient outcomes,” said Lex Guinn, chief executive officer of Park Plaza Hospital.

The Discovery ST is the newest addition to GE’s Discovery family of scanners that provides PET and CT data in a single exam.

The new mobile PET/CT scanner will be available on Wednesday’s from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Park Plaza Hospital. Patients must be referred by a physician. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 866-235-7226.

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Park Plaza Hospital, part of Tenet Texas, is a 468-bed acute care facility located at 1313 Hermann Drive in Houston, Texas.  The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the Houston area for nearly 30 years.  Park Plaza hospital provides a broad spectrum of medical and surgical services, including treatment of diabetes, cancer and other diseases, as well as orthopedics, cardiology and maternity care.  The hospital’s skilled nursing services, rehabilitation programs, outpatient services and outreach programs promote a continuum of care for patients and their families.  Park Plaza Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about Park Plaza Hospital, visit www.parkplazahospital.com.