GE HealthCare, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam work together to advance precision care and help improve patient outcomes

CHICAGO — GE HealthCare is proud to announce a strategic collaboration with Erasmus MC University Medical Center (Erasmus MC) to evaluate a next-generation total body positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) technology[i] that aims to provide new opportunities to support confident disease detection, treatment planning, and patient outcome monitoring.

Diagnosing diseases accurately is essential—especially when it comes to complex conditions like cancer, where early detection can save lives. With over 10 million new cases diagnosed globally each year, cancer remains one of the most pressing health challenges.[ii]

Fortunately, advances in medical technology are opening up new possibilities for earlier disease detection and more personalized care, with precise imaging and targeted treatments that help healthcare professionals tailor interventions more effectively. Theranostics, for example, combines two powerful tools: imaging that shows where cancer is in the body, and targeted treatments that act on those same areas. This approach allows doctors to tailor care to each patient, helping enable more precise and effective diagnosis and treatment.

Erasmus MC is a pioneer in this field. It was where key theranostic treatments — like In-111-Octreotide and Lu-177-Dotatate — were developed and among the first brought into clinical practice. Today, Erasmus MC continues to lead in developing and adopting innovative solutions to help improve cancer care.

“We’re embracing cutting-edge technology not just to improve care—but to transform it,” shares Prof. Dr. Aad van der Lugt, Chair of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. “Our goal is to scan more patients, faster and with dramatically lower radiation dose. At the same time, these innovations open the door to groundbreaking research that brings us closer to truly personalized care and treatment across the Netherlands and beyond.”

Erasmus MC and GE HealthCare are driving the evolution of molecular imaging by integrating advanced technologies into research and clinical practice, with the goal of improving patient outcomes worldwide. Central to this effort is an evaluation of GE HealthCare’s total body PET/CT technology[i] — focusing on protocol optimization, dose reduction, and dynamic imaging for oncology and theranostic applications.

"Our global GE HealthCare team remains steadfast in our mission to support clinicians and collaborate with leading research, clinical trial, technology, and academic institutions to advance healthcare," reflects Jean-Luc Procaccini, President and CEO, Molecular Imaging and Computed Tomography, GE HealthCare. "We are thrilled to work with Erasmus MC’s cohort of seasoned researchers and clinicians as we continue to produce and evolve cutting-edge technologies based on the valuable insight they and all our collaborators provide. Together, we are making giant leaps forward in what we expect will be a key innovation in the practice of precision care for the next several decades."

A vision for tomorrow: Preparing for the future

Researchers at Erasmus MC will collaborate with GE HealthCare to further expand the potential of the company’s total body PET/CT technology – an innovation designed to support advanced research, encourage new discoveries, and meet growing clinical demands.

“We’re working to build the molecular imaging department of 2035 — today,” says Prof. Erik Verburg, Professor of Translational Imaging at Erasmus MC. “With GE HealthCare’s developing total body PET/CT technology,[i] we aim to streamline clinical workflows while creating the capacity to push the boundaries of advanced research. We expect this extended axial field of view and ultra-high sensitivity technology will open new frontiers in PET imaging — especially when paired with our radiopharmacy capabilities. We aim to explore novel tracers like Zr and Cu with unprecedented clarity, accelerating our work in oncology and theranostics.”

GE HealthCare is designing its 128 cm long axial field of view PET/CT technology with the goal of delivering high sensitivity for ultra-low dose scans; fast acquisitions; multi-organ dynamic imaging; and impressive imaging of slow decaying, low activity tracers. In parallel, this technology aims to help improve healthcare system efficiency by enhancing clinical workflows, supporting routine clinical practice, and improving operational efficiency with deep learning-based technologies.

Leveraging the latest solutions to stage and quantify disease

In addition to its work on development technology, Erasmus MC boasts a robust portfolio of equipment for the practice of precision care in molecular imaging and nuclear medicine today, including GE HealthCare’s:

• PETtrace™ 800: A cyclotron system which produces essential radiotracers for the practice of precision care across care pathways – including oncology and theranostics.
• SIGNA PET/MR: A PET/MR system that delivers ultra-clear, motion-free imaging and advanced quantitation to support precise diagnosis, treatment planning, and research — while enhancing patient comfort through flexible AIR™ coil technology and intelligent workflow tools.
• Omni Legend: An innovative 32 cm PET/CT system capable of producing high resolution images and more than two times the sensitivity of prior digital scanners,[iii] enabling faster total scan times[iv] and exceptional image quality for small lesion detectability.[v]
• Precision DL: An innovative deep learning-based image processing software available with Omni Legend that is engineered to increase small, low-contrast lesion detectability compared to conventional digital PET/CT scanners.[vi]
• StarGuide™ SPECT/CT: A digital SPECT/CT system built to help clinicians pinpoint the size, shape, and position of lesions and monitor therapy with exceptional precision, while also supporting high patient throughput and helping reduce complexity.

Prof. Verburg adds: “We are building a molecular imaging suite that will meet growing clinical demands and improve patient outcomes and experience. Already, the Omni Legend 32 cm detector PET/CT system, which we installed earlier this year, has allowed us to reduce scan times from 20 minutes to under 10, enabling us to scan significantly more patients without compromising image quality.”[vii]

By integrating innovation and strategic collaboration across every stage of the care pathway, this effort is designed to equip researchers and clinicians with the tools they need to transform cancer care and drive meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.

Furthermore, this work reflects GE HealthCare and Erasmus MC’s commitment to Thera4Care, an initiative focused on expanding access to theranostics across Europe by advancing radiology-based diagnostics and supporting the growing role of multi-modal radiotheranostic solutions.

For more information on GE HealthCare’s impressive Molecular Imaging product portfolio, please visit GEHealthCare.com.

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[i] Technology in development. Not for sale. Not cleared or approved by the U.S. FDA or any other global regulator for commercial availability.

[ii] World Health Organization. Cancer. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int./news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed Nov. 3, 2022.

[iii] Omni Legend 32 cm has up to 2.2 increase in system sensitivity as compared to Discovery™ MI 25 cm. Measurement follows NEMA NU 2-2018.

[iv] Up to 53% reduction of PET scan time on Omni Legend 32 cm compared to Discovery™ MI 25 cm, as demonstrated in phantom testing.

[v] Omni Legend 32 cm increases small lesion detectability 16% on average and up to 20%, as compared to Discovery™ MI 25 cm with matched scan time/injected dose, as demonstrated in phantom testing using a model observer with 4 mm lesions; average of different reconstruction methods.

[vi] At matched scan time and injected dose. Detectability using clinical data with an inserted 8 mm diameter liver lesion of known location and 2:1 contrast using a CHO model observer, comparing SNR from Omni Legend 32 cm with QCHD and Precision DL to SNR from Discovery™ MI 25 cm with QCFX.

[vii] The statement by the GE HealthCare customer described here is based on their own opinions and experiences and on results that were achieved in the customer’s unique setting. Since there is no typical hospital and many variables exist, such as hospital size, case mix, etc., there can be no guarantee that other customers will achieve the same results.