The Department of Nuclear Medicine is one of the key diagnostic and therapeutic technical departments in the hospital. It utilizes nuclear science and technology for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, serving as an effective means to support clinical departments in making accurate diagnoses. The Department of Nuclear Medicine at The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University was established in 1987. With the formation of the hospital's three-campus layout (Ziqiang, Qingnian, and Yatai), the department has achieved integrated diagnosis and treatment and is thriving under the support of the hospital leadership and the unified guidance of Dr. Zhao Yinlong, Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine.
The Ziqiang Campus retains SPECT/CT imaging and in vitro testing capabilities. The Qingnian Campus offers a comprehensive range of in vitro analytical testing services.
The Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Yatai Campus covers a construction area of nearly 3,600 square meters, located on Levels B1 and B2 of the Outpatient and Technical Building. Level B2 is equipped with an imported medical cyclotron used for producing radionuclides for PET imaging, serving as the center for radiopharmaceutical preparation. Level B1 follows a rational layout of "three zones and two passageways," functioning as an open radionuclide application department with radiation protection measures meeting international standards.
The Nuclear Medicine Department at Yatai Campus is divided into four functional areas: the Outpatient Area, Imaging Area, Radionuclide Ward, and In Vitro Testing Area. It is equipped with a fully digital PET/CT scanner and modern radionuclide wards.
Outpatient Area
Treatments provided include:
90Sr applicator therapy for hemangiomas, keloids, and verruca vulgaris.
131I therapy for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer.
89Sr therapy for bone metastases of tumors.
Yunke therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.
Imaging Area
The Imaging Area is further divided into three sub-sections:
2.1 PET/CT Imaging Zone
Equipped with the world’s most advanced Philips Vereos digital PET/CT system, featuring 128-slice 64-row CT technology. It achieves "1mm, 2min, 3mCi" performance:
The industry’s only 1mm voxel reconstruction, delivering exceptionally clear image details.
A full-body scan completed in just 2 minutes, significantly improving patient throughput.
2.2 SPECT/CT Imaging Zone
Equipped with a Siemens Symbia Intevo Bold SPECT/CT system, featuring a 24-detector row, 16-slice CT component. It offers the best CT resolution in the industry for clearer anatomical localization. The system is integrated with ECG gating and includes a particle implantation and radiotherapy positioning planning platform. It also features high-definition bone sculpting technology, enabling a integrated qualitative-quantitative clinical diagnostic mode.
C. The dosage required for a full-body scan can be as low as 3 millicuries, which reduces radioactive drug usage and is more cost-effective.
2.3 Bone Densitometry Area
Equipped with a GE Lunar iDXA bone densitometer, which is recognized by the WHO as the gold standard for bone density assessment. It features an automated scanning protocol that completes a bone density test in just three minutes. Additionally, the system provides ultra-low dose, precise body composition analysis, metabolic analysis, BMI index, 10-year fracture risk prediction, and periprosthetic bone density measurement. It is also compatible with small animal imaging and includes dedicated pediatric low-dose software.
Radionuclide Ward
The ward area consists of 6 patient rooms with a total of 9 beds. Each room provides radiation shielding sufficient for handling operational activities involving doses ≥3.7×10⁹ Bq. This unit admits patients receiving iodine-131 therapy after thyroid cancer surgery, addressing the previous gap in dedicated radionuclide treatment facilities for thyroid cancer at The Second Hospital of Jilin University.
In Vitro Testing Area
Building upon isotopic testing capabilities, the section has been equipped with the latest Roche and Abbott immunoassay analyzer assembly lines, as well as standalone units from Beckman Coulter, Snibe, and Mindray. It performs testing for the entire hospital, including thyroid function, tumor markers, sex hormones, bone metabolism, hypertension and diabetes markers, urinary iodine, 7 specific antibodies for lung cancer, thymidine kinase, and other indicators.
The Department of Nuclear Medicine at The Second Norman Bethune Hospital of Jilin University will build upon its ongoing efforts to enhance performance in medical care, education, and research with steady and incremental progress. It aims to align closely with national and international standards in nuclear medicine, promote comprehensive clinical application of nuclear technology, and benefit the local community. By doing so, the department strives to achieve a virtuous cycle of comprehensive development wherein medical services prioritize patients, scientific research enhances clinical practice, the platform cultivates talent, and talent further elevates the quality of healthcare.
