The new digital PET-CT scanner at ATRYS-SIMM in Barcelona features an extended 30-centimetre PET detection field, twice that of conventional digital PET systems. The technology makes it possible to detect smaller lesions with higher image quality, and reduces scan time and radiation dose by up to 50%.
The system has a high clinical impact in oncology, as well as in neurology, cardiology and the study of infectious and inflammatory conditions.
ATRYS Health, a medical company specialising in telediagnosis, oncology, pathology and nuclear medicine healthcare services, has installed the uMI PanVivo digital PET-CT system from United Imaging Healthcare at its ATRYS-SIMM IRLA centre in Barcelona. This state-of-the-art scanner is currently the most advanced in Spain.
The system stands out for its extended 30-centimetre PET detection field —almost twice that of conventional scanners— and its high-precision crystals, which deliver very high-resolution images. These capabilities significantly improve diagnostic sensitivity, making it easier to detect smaller lesions and identify findings that might go unnoticed with standard technologies.
In addition, the scanner allows scans to be performed up to 50% faster, with a reduction of up to 50% in radiation dose as well, thereby improving the patient experience. This advantage is especially relevant in cases requiring periodic monitoring or follow-up studies. The system was installed and commissioned with the participation of APR Salud, United Imaging Healthcare's partner in Spain.
“Having the most advanced extended-field digital PET in Spain enables us to offer more accurate diagnoses, with less exposure and in less time. It represents a qualitative leap that strengthens our ability to detect disease and optimise clinical decision-making in complex conditions,” says Isabel Roca, Director of Nuclear Medicine at ATRYS.
For his part, Íñigo Valcaneras, Country Manager of ATRYS Spain, highlights that “this technology also represents an operational step forward, as it allows us to increase our healthcare capacity and reduce waiting times, thus supporting the growth of our activity”.
Diagnosis with broad clinical impact
The uMI PanVivo PET-CT is a highly versatile diagnostic system whose clinical application depends on the radiopharmaceutical used. In oncology, it is used for initial diagnosis, staging, follow-up, detection of recurrence and treatment response assessment in various types of cancer, particularly lung, prostate and breast cancer.
Beyond oncology, the scanner extends its applications to neurology —including neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's— as well as cardiology and the assessment of infectious and inflammatory processes. It will also enable advanced clinical trials in both oncology and neurology.
The scanner has already begun clinical activity and performed its first scan on 4 May. Its addition to the ATRYS network in Catalonia strengthens the capacity to care for private patients and those from partner organisations and hospitals.
Studies performed with this technology will be integrated into the multidisciplinary committees in which the company participates, contributing to more precise and personalised treatment planning for each patient.
With this addition, ATRYS consolidates its position as a benchmark in highly specialised nuclear medicine, expanding the available diagnostic capacity and moving towards more precise, efficient and patient-centred care.