Healthcare Industry News: Cardiac PET
News Release - July 31, 2007
Positron Announces Study That Suggests Cardiac PET May Help Reduce Use of Angiograms and Bypass Surgery While Reducing Costs
HOUSTON--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Positron Corporation (OTCBB: POSC ; the "Company") announced today that a recent study by The State University of New York at Buffalo reveals that Positron Emission Tomography ("PET") scanning when used as the first tool to diagnose heart-vessel blockages, is more accurate, less invasive and cost effective than SPECT imaging. The research findings were published in the July edition of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.Results of the study provide a rationale for PET scanning to become the initial diagnostic test for assessing a patient's risk of heart attack, says lead researcher Michael Merhige, MD, UB clinical associate professor of nuclear medicine and Director of the Heart Center of Niagara at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. Merhige added, "Because PET scanning is more accurate and provides a clearer picture of the state of the heart than conventional SPECT imaging, we found a decrease in the use of angiograms and bypass surgery by more than 50 percent if used as the first-line test with patients when all too often it is the last test."
Dr. Merhige adds, "Currently cardiologists conduct a range of tests, including stress tests and an imaging procedure called single photon emission computed topography, or SPECT. False readings from SPECT often put patients through angiograms that turn out to be normal. PET avoids most false positives, as well as false negatives, because the images have higher resolution and better contrast."
Dr. Merhige's study demonstrates that invasive procedures such as coronary arteriography, coronary bypass surgery and stent implantation are over utilized in the United States, contributing to unnecessary health care expense without improved patient outcomes. Additionally, the study supports the idea that the future of cardiology lies in non-invasive imaging combined with the aggressive use of cholesterol lowering drugs and lifestyle changes including better nutrition, regular exercise and smoking cessation.
Dr. Merhige's research concludes that significant lifestyle changes--very low-fat diet, exercise, cholesterol-lowering drugs and stress management--are essential for successful medical management. Merhige added, "For some patients, surgery seems like a quicker option, when it actually only addresses symptoms, not the underlying disease process."
Joseph Oliverio, President of Positron Corporation stated, "The finding from Dr. Merhige's research adds further medical credence to our Cardiac PET business plan and direction. Our objective is to be the leader in PET imaging by offering a total cardiac imaging solution to cardiologists through our comprehensive software package combined with an affordable PET only system. We believe that changing imaging market dynamics may result in an increased demand for our cost effective product priced marginally more than a SPECT system. "
About Positron:
Positron Corporation designs, manufactures, markets and supports advanced medical imaging devices utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) technology. Positron Corporation incorporates patented and proprietary software and hardware technology for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in the areas of cardiology, oncology and neurology. Positron Corporation offers unique combination of low cost technology and disease specific software solutions differentiating themselves from all other medical device manufacturers. Positron's PET systems are in use at leading medical facilities throughout North America and in select International markets. Additional information may be found at www.positron.com.
Forward Looking Statements:
Statements in this document contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on many assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of future performance and may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Positron Corporation to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation those set forth as "Risk Factors" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: Positron Corp
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