Griffin Health expands PET imaging to aid in dementia diagnosis

DERBY - Griffin Health is proud to announce the expansion of its Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging capabilities to include Vizamyl, a breakthrough tool in dementia diagnosis.

Vizamyl (flutemetamol F18 injection) is an FDA-approved radiopharmaceutical agent used in PET scans to visualize beta-amyloid neuritic plaques in the brains of adult patients. 

The presence of these plaques is a critical biomarker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. With the integration of Vizamyl into its imaging portfolio, Griffin is equipped to assist neurologists, geriatricians, and referring physicians in the complex process of dementia diagnosis and treatment planning.

“The availability of Vizamyl PET imaging represents a significant step forward in Griffin Health’s commitment to providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools for cognitive health,” said Griffin Health Vice President of Diagnostic and Cancer Services Christine Cooper, MS, CNMT, RT(N), RSO, FACHE, FAB. “Early and accurate diagnosis is key to effective patient care, and this expansion ensures our facility is aligned with the most current standards in neuroimaging.”

Vizamyl PET imaging is particularly valuable in cases where the cause of cognitive decline is uncertain, or where a definitive diagnosis would guide clinical decision-making. 

The scan results can provide additional information to either support or rule out the presence of Alzheimer’s pathology, contributing to a more informed and confident diagnosis.

Griffin offers a comprehensive approach to support neurology patients and their families, including affiliated neurologists (for indicated treatments), physical and occupational therapy, primary care, support groups, and community resources.

For more information about Vizamyl PET, call 203-732-7265 or visit www.griffinhealth.org/vizamyl. 

Healthcare providers can schedule Vizamyl PET scans for eligible patients by faxing orders to Central Scheduling at Griffin Health at 203-732-1559.

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.