PET-CT Centre

Mahkota PET-CT Centre: Where Advanced Imaging Meets Expert Care

Mahkota PET-CT Centre is a one-stop diagnostic hub equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including the Biograph mCT 20 Excel PET-CT scanner, an in-house radiopharmaceutical laboratory (hot lab) with a biosafety cabinet for FDG preparation, three injection rooms, a recovery room, a dedicated toilet, and a patient education room—all thoughtfully designed to prioritise patient privacy, comfort, and convenience.

The centre adheres strictly to radiation safety protocols for both patients and healthcare personnel in accordance with national health and safety regulations. The PET-CT Centre is staffed by a specialised team led by an experienced Nuclear Medicine Physician, Dato' Dr. Mohamed Ali Bin Abdul Khader, and supported by a Medical Physicist, Pharmacist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Registered Nurse, and trained administrative personnel.

Latest Addition: Gallium-68 PSMA PET-CT Scan for Prostate Cancer

Mahkota Medical Centre is proud to be the first hospital in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan to introduce the Gallium-68 PSMA PET-CT scan, an advanced diagnostic imaging tool designed specifically for prostate cancer. This innovation significantly enhances detection sensitivity, especially in patients with low PSA levels, allowing for earlier and more accurate identification of prostate cancer and its metastases.

Led by Dato' Dr. Mohamed Ali, the PSMA PET-CT service represents a milestone in precision medicine—ensuring patients receive timely, personalised, and effective care. This cutting-edge modality reinforces Mahkota’s role as a leader in cancer diagnostics in the region.

What is PET-CT?

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) is a sophisticated imaging method in Nuclear Medicine that visualises the metabolic activity of tissues and organs, commonly using a tracer like F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and Gallium-68 PSMA. It is particularly useful in oncology for detecting cancer and assessing its spread.

stop at 20 hours.

The PET scan is integrated with CT (Computed Tomography), a structural imaging technique, resulting in a PET-CT scan that provides both functional and anatomical information. This combined approach enables the detection of disease at an earlier stage—even before physical changes are visible—thereby improving treatment planning and patient outcomes.

Is PET-CT Safe?

Yes. The radiation exposure from a PET-CT scan is low and well within safety limits. The radioactive tracer (such as F-18 FDG or Gallium-68) used in the scan loses its radioactivity quickly and stops within 20 hours.

The PET-CT Centre provides the following services utilising F18 FDG for Oncology:

• Detection of occult/unknown primary tumour site in patients with metastatic disease.
• Detection of recurrence of cancer in case of elevated biochemical tumour marker without clinical signs or radiological evidence.
• Detection of tumour recurrence post therapy and on follow-up.
• Differentiation of benign and malignant tumours.
• Evaluation of the extension of the cancer process (staging and restaging).
• Evaluation of the effect of therapy (post-chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery) on cancer.
• Providing images of viable tumour distribution for designing ports for external beam radiation therapy.
• Providing images of viable tumour towards the most accessible biopsy site.
• Restaging of cancer after therapy and after recurrence. Restaging of cancer after therapy and after recurrence.
• Staging of cancers at the time of diagnosis.
• Staging of biochemical aggressiveness of cancer.