Manila, Philippines — The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) recently welcomed esteemed guests, Dr. Hongcheng Shi, Professor of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University in China, and Dr. Manfred Fischer, Professor at the Institute of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Therapy in Kassel, Germany.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Samuel Ang, CGHMC Medical Director, shared a message from President and CEO, Mr. Kelly Sia: “Thank you for this unique opportunity to share knowledge and information in the field of Radiomolecular imaging and Therapy in Nuclear Medicine. The insights you will share could not have come at a better time, as we are in the process of upgrading our facilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics.”
Mr. Sia highlighted the medical equipments the hospital has acquired to enhance patient care, including the Gamma Probe, a well-established technology that improves precision in radio-guided surgeries, ensuring safer procedures, faster recovery, and better patient outcomes. He also announced the soon-to-be-installed Gamma SPECT-CT, a dual-modality imaging system combining SPECT and CT scans to provide sharp, detailed images for accurate interpretation.
A few months ago, a multispecialty team of physicians, led by Section Head Dr. Arlene Ong-Ortiz, performed CGHMC’s first administration of Lutetium-177 Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Radioligand Therapy. The introduction of this revolutionary theranostic procedure marks a new chapter in the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional cancer care within reach.
The new Chair of the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics, Dr. Jonas Santiago, introduced the distinguished guests, noting Dr. Shi’s extensive experience of over 30 years in nuclear medicine, radiology, and imaging sciences.
Dr. Hongcheng Shi, in addition to leading the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Zhongshan Hospital, is also the Director of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine at Fudan University and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Institute of Imaging Medicine. He is the author of the highly regarded book The Total Body PET-CT Prospective Clinical Applications, which he recommends for anyone interested in PET-CT technology.
Dr. Shi delivered a lecture titled ‘Theranostics: What we need to know’. He provided a brief background on Zhongshan Hospital, which was founded in 1937 as the first hospital established and run by Chinese people. The Department of Nuclear Medicine, spanning 5,800 square meters, consists of four centers and houses advanced equipment, including four PET-CT scanners that serves over 100 PET-CT patients daily, three SPECT/CT units, one SPECT, one B1 breast scanner, a dedicated cardiac gamma camera, nine radionuclide therapy beds, and ultrasound technology. The department also has a Molecular Probe Research Center.
According to Dr. Shi, theranostics is a precise and targeted treatment. “It is not something new. The long history of using radiotheranostics to target the same structure for both diagnostics and radionuclide therapy dates back to the 1930s.” He elaborated on the critical role of nuclear medicine physicians in theranostics and shared key findings from the VISION and TheraP clinical trials. He also discussed emerging trends in therapeutics and the regulatory landscape for radiopharmaceutical licenses in medical institutions in China.
Summarizing his presentation, Dr. Shi emphasized that theranostics promotes precise medical treatment and is expected to become one of the most important therapy methods in the future. He encouraged nuclear medicine teams to prepare in advance, gain more experience, and actively participate in research and development.
The second speaker, Dr. Manfred Fischer, shared his expertise on pheochromocytoma (a rare neuroendocrine tumor that forms in the adrenal glands), highlighting the “Rule of 10” in this disease: 10% of pheochromocytomas are bilateral, 10% are malignant, and 10% are familial.
Dr. Fischer recounted a compelling case involving a 14-year-old boy diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma that had infiltrated the liver. Due to diffuse infiltration, surgery was not an option, and instead, the boy underwent three high-dose I131-MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) treatments with complete response. Years later, the boy, now an adult, called Dr. Fischer to share that he had married and had a son. In 2014, he reached out again—this time seeking treatment for his own child, who had been diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma. Fortunately, since there were no metastases or tissue infiltration, surgery was successful.
To the question, “Do we need nuclear medicine?” Dr. Fischer answered emphatically, “YES, but we need a qualified physician and close collaboration among specialists.”
Dr. Samuel Ang concluded the event by expressing gratitude to the speakers for sharing their insights on the status of nuclear medicine in China and Germany. Acknowledging the advancements in radiomolecular imaging and therapy, he emphasized CGHMC’s commitment to future engagement and collaboration, particularly in its Fellowship and Training Program. He expressed optimism about sending residents and fellows to China and Germany for further training under the leadership of Dr. Jonas Santiago and Dr. Arlene Ong-Ortiz.
With ongoing advancements and international collaboration, CGHMC remains at the forefront of nuclear medicine and theranostics, ensuring access to the best treatments for its patients.
