Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay, has purchased a nuclear medicine scanner that provides high-quality images that describe both the nature and precise location of disease. This equipment helps physicians quickly and accurately diagnose conditions such as heart disease and cancerous tumors.

The new nuclear medicine scanner, called the Infinia Hawkeye 4, is an innovative hybrid scanner that provides enhanced images through a quick and painless scan that exposes the patient only to the necessary radiation dose.

"The quality of the images on the new scanner greatly improves visibility, therefore increasing the accuracy of the results," said Dr. Michael Denike, cardiologist with Blanchard Valley Health System.

To complete the scan, the patient is injected with a safe, radioactive substance which travels through the bloodstream. The equipment then records the radioactive emissions and the device's CT scanner takes pictures of the person's anatomy to pinpoint the disease.

By allowing physicians to assess the aggressiveness of the disease, the system may help avoid unnecessary surgery and enable the most appropriate treatment plan for the patient.