Griffin Health enhances Parkinson's diagnostic imaging tool

Griffin Health Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Department has expanded its capabilities for more accurate and timely diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease.

Griffin is now offering DaTscan® (Ioflupane I 123), an innovative diagnostic molecular imaging tool used to evaluate dopamine transporter availability in the brain. 

With expansion of services to include this type of neuroimaging, Griffin Health is enhancing its ability to assist neurologists, primary care physicians and other specialists in differentiating between Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, supporting more accurate and timely diagnoses.

DaTscan imaging involves injecting a small amount of the radiopharmaceutical (a specialized drug that has a radioactive component) into the bloodstream, followed by a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan to capture detailed images of the brain. This procedure is non-invasive, safe, and typically takes less than an hour to complete.

“The addition of DaTscan provides a significant advancement, improving the accuracy and timeliness of diagnoses for patients with Parkinsonian syndromes,” said Griffin Health Vice President of Diagnostic and Cancer Services Christine Cooper, MS, CNMT, RT(N), RSO, FACHE, FAB. “With early and accurate diagnosis, patients can receive appropriate treatment more quickly, which can have a positive impact on their long-term health and quality of life.”

Griffin Health is now accepting referrals for DaTscan. Referring providers can contact the Griffin Nuclear Medicine Department at 203-732-7271 for more information and orders can be faxed to Central Scheduling at 203-732-1559.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Seymour Pink donates $80K to Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital

From left: Seymour Pink former Treasurer Chris Vartko, Hewitt Center Manager Tori Kochiss, Griffin Hospital Chairman of Radiology Dr. Devika Jajoo, Seymour Pink Treasurer Tina Godkin, Seymour Pink President/Founder Mary Deming, and Griffin Health Diagnostic Imaging Outpatient Manager Cindy Madsen./ Contributed photo

DERBY - Seymour Pink recently helped to enhance the accuracy of breast ultrasound screenings at The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.

The community breast cancer fundraising organization donated $80,000 to the Center for the purchase of an advanced RS85 Prestige ultrasound system which provides images with superior quality and other technological advances, including elastography, an emerging sonographic imaging technique that provides information on breast lesions in addition to conventional ultrasonography and mammography. 

Recent studies show that ultrasonographic elastography (USE) provides higher diagnostic accuracy compared with conventional ultrasonography during breast cancer diagnosis, which eventually helps to reduce false-positive results and therefore is useful in avoiding breast biopsy.

Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of the breast. It can show certain breast changes that can be harder to see on mammograms. Ultrasound can be especially helpful in women with dense breast tissue, which can make it hard to see abnormal areas on mammograms.

“The Valley is very near and dear to us and they have supported Seymour Pink for all these years, so this is how we give back to the community,” said Seymour Pink Board of Directors President Mary Deming. “We’re also very tied into helping women with dense breast tissue and this precise technology will help find cancers more easily before they spread.”

For more information about Seymour Pink, visit seymourpink.com. 

For more information about The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, visit griffinhealth.org/breast.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.