Alberta PET-CT scans delayed again after cyclotron machine breakdown

Alberta Health Services (AHS)says PET-CT scans which areused to detect cancerwill be delayed again.

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The cyclotron in Edmonton that produces a material calledfluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)will be out of service for another week.

In the meantime,AHS is bringing in material from other sources to provide urgent scans.

AHS hopedon Wednesdayit would have the machine fixed within a week.

"AHS is taking every possible step to fix the cyclotron and have it up and running as soon as possible," said health officials in a release.

"All PET-CT scans will be rebooked as soon as possible and are scheduled according to urgency as determined by AHS radiologists."

AHS will contact patients prior to any postponement of a PET-CT scan.