Image

Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

  1. Home
  2. National Centers & Departments
  3. Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
  • Icon
  • Icon
Image

The centre is proud to be the leading provider of nuclear medicine and its associated technologies in Oman.

Here, we provide you with the best precise service and the latest technology in imaging to meet your medical care requirements from oncology, cardiology, thyroid, to renal, and bone abnormalities.

The centre provides the exclusive cyclotron facility producing various radiopharmaceuticals with highly trained staff. The centre also provides specialized radioiodine service, Positron-emission tomography imaging, bone densitometry and the latest dual head Gamma camera.

Icon

Our Vision

To continually pursue excellence and adherence of the professional practice of nuclear medicine to the highest possible standards.

Our Mission

To deliver high quality diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicinecare in a patient- centred environment.

Nuclear Medicine Services

Image
Down

PET/CT
Image
Down

Iodine 131 Isolation Ward

Cyclotron Facility

The medical cyclotron at Molecular Imaging Center (MIC) is the only cyclotron in Oman is licensed to produce radiopharmaceuticals by Environment Authority in June 2021. It is capable of producing various PET radiotracers which is done on daily bases with the highly qualified staff and state of art quality control equipments; to do to ensure the products quality and safety prior to release to be injected to patients. The produced radiotracer (Fludeoxyglucose - 18F-FDG) is for the Molecular Imaging Center in Royal Hospital as well to other PET centers such as Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

PET/CT

Positron-emission tomography (PET) is the imaging modality of choice in oncology. In addition, there are several indications for using PET in cardiology, neurology and infectious diseases. The main radiotracer used in the MIC is the radiolabeled glucose analog [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG). The PET-CT exam is a combined imaging where both CT and PET images are acquired over the same area of the patient. It is a noninvasive diagnostic tool in which the PET images provide a functional image of the radiopharmaceutical distribution in the patient, while the CT images provide an image of the anatomy with maximum scan time of mostly around 15 minutes and not exceeding 25 minutes.

Iodine 131 Isolation Ward

Radioiodine therapy after an appropriate thyroid surgery is essential in most of the cases. The objective of radioiodine therapy is to treat any residual thyroid tissue, as well to any distant disseminates of the disease to other organs. Radioiodine is also used to treat other non-cancerous thyroid diseases such as thyrotoxicosis due to Graves’ disease or toxic thyroid nodule. Iodine therapy starts since 2006 in NM Royal hospital. Specialized teams and two isolation rooms are allocated especially for this treatment modality. Radioiodine therapy is a simple procedure that requires taking orally a special radioactive capsule. Few special steps and safety measures before and after delivering the procedure to the patients are required. All patients undergoing this type of treatment are fully explained, and instructions are given to them verbally and in a written format.

The patient will be admitted in a special lead lined isolation room and will be asked to swallow a radioiodine capsule. They will then be isolated in the room for 2-3 days, for the purpose of observation and radiation safety. Radiation level will be monitored, and patient will be discharged with special instructions to follow at home. Another part of radioiodine therapy regime is to undergo special scans to assess the areas of radioiodine uptake and the efficacy of the treatment. The scans might be repeated on day 5 - 10 post capsule administration. In most cases single dose of iodine therapy is sufficient, however, in some situations more than one doses may be needed.

Image
Down

Hot Laboratory
Image
Down

SPECT & SPECT/CT
Image
Down

Bone Densitometry

Hot Laboratory

Radiopharmaceuticals represent a distinct class of drugs where processing activities include the use of radionuclide generators, preparation and dispensing take place in our department Hot-laboratory. Preparation is done in a clean and septic area with standard and up to date polices and via qualified and trained staff. Regular monitoring and auding is done for the hot-lab policies to ensure safe practice.

SPECT & SPECT/CT

The department contains the state of art two dual head Gamma cameras instead in 2016. These cameras are used to image all types of procedures with up-to-date softer wear. Future to this and in order to improve the disease localization accuracy, a new Gamma Camera (SPECT/CT) device that has been installed in October 2016. This device includes a gamma camera and a CT device back-to-back in one device. Its main uses are imaging the heart muscle, disease localization in thyroid and other types of tumors.

Bone Densitometry

There is one Bone Densitometry machine used to measurement bone density, with up -to-date software for both adults and pediatrics. This procedure is done on daily bases and requires maximum of 10 -15 minutes.

Icon

Awards and Accreditations

  • The department obtained a high degree in the Canadian Accreditation Certificate, and work is underway to preserve these gains and raise the evaluation to a higher degree.
  • The Nuclear Medicine Department was evaluated by experts from the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) in the framework of joint projects with the Agency (QUANUM)
  • *Licensing of Cyclotron facility.
Image

Achievments

  • The only cyclotron in Oman is licensed to produce radiopharmaceuticals by Environment Authority in June 2021.
  • Focusing on increasing the capacity of nuclear medicine department and working with high efficiency utilizing available human resource, materials and services.
  • Nuclear Medicine Department witnessed a significant increase in number of investigations during past five years and with available resources remained unchanged. The department was also able to overcome obstacles during COVID-19 pandemic. The work was suspended for only a period of one month and a half at the beginning of the pandemic and which was due to failure to receive radioactive materials from manufacturers because of flight suspension. However, efforts were made to resolve this problem with cooperation of suppliers and the department returned to work without interruption since then.
Image
  • Patients’ waiting list for radioactive iodine-131 therapy has been dramatically reduced, after reaching more than 12 months during the pandemic crisis.
  • Implementing LEAN concept for cardiac scans which helped to reduce the waiting period for patients to get the procedure.
  • Decrease the waiting list for several tests, including thyroid and kidney tests.
  • Opening the Molecular Imaging Center, which contains the only cyclotron in Oman, and that is used to produce radioactive materials injected into patients. The presence of a positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) scanner along with the Cyclotron in Oman implies a great progress and a qualitative leap in the level of health services in general, and in the history of nuclear medicine in particular.
Image
  • The department was able to manage the services at the Molecular Imaging Center for the sixth year in a row, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work in the center continued without interruption during the pandemic despite the high workload faced by the nuclear accelerator employees and the rest of the center’s staff.
  • Continuous work at molecular imaging center has helped to reduce waiting list for oncology patients' appointments, and to continue supplying radioactive material to MIC and SQUH patients.
  • Addition of a new emission tomography device (SPECT/CT) which has significantly improved the quality of provided services in the department.
Image
  • Provision of radiation protection devices and technical devices related to radioactive iodine treatment; some from the Ministry of Health and others from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
  • Send a specialized team from the department to help in the start of operating and training medical staff in the Nuclear Medicine Department in Salalah Hospital, as a third department in the Sultanate.
Image

Nuclear Medicine Procedures

Image

Patient Stories

Thyroid cancer patients in iodine therapy isolation rooms need emotional support and encouragement.

As the patients are isolated for 3 days with no visitors allowed, the caring nuclear medicine staff took the initiative to leave encouragement phrases at the window glass of the rooms, sending positive energy to the patients. This has significantly helped to improve the patient's admission and therapy experience at Nuclear Medicine Departmen, Royal Hospital.

Up