PET-CT and SPECT-CT imaging services

Life Healthcare has introduced a new nuclear medicine unit at Life Hilton Private Hospital, offering PET-CT and SPECT-CT imaging services.

Until now, many patients in the region were required to travel to Durban for PET-CT scans. The new unit enables earlier, more convenient diagnosis and treatment planning for oncology patients, closer to home.

“Nuclear medicine, and PET‑CT in particular, plays a critical role in modern cancer diagnosis,” says Dr Nischal Soni, Nuclear Physician at Life Hilton Private Hospital. “PET‑CT provides detailed insight into both the structure and metabolic activity of cancer, offering information that conventional imaging cannot. By combining anatomical CT imaging with functional PET imaging, we are able to more accurately locate tumours, determine disease extent and tailor treatment plans — often enabling more targeted and less invasive interventions.”

With the addition of the Life Hilton Private Hospital’s nuclear medicine unit, Life Healthcare now operates five PET‑CT scanners nationally, with established services in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Plans are underway to expand this to six units, with a second PET‑CT unit in Durban, KwaZulu‑Natal later this year.

PET‑CT is recommended in international clinical guidelines, including those of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), and when appropriately used, has been shown to change staging or management in up to 30% of certain cancers, highlighting its importance in improving patient outcomes.

Pete Wharton‑Hood, Chief Executive of Life Healthcare, says the expansion reflects a broader focus on improving access outside major metropolitan areas:

“Access to advanced oncology diagnostics remains limited in South Africa. Expanding PET-CT services into the Midlands helps close this gap while supporting a more integrated, patient-centred approach to cancer care.”

The introduction of PET‑CT at Life Hilton Private Hospital forms part of Life Healthcare’s broader oncology strategy to build an integrated, end‑to‑end “molecule‑to‑recovery” model — spanning isotope production, advanced diagnostics, radiotherapy and treatment delivery.

“It’s not just about bringing technology closer to our patients, it’s about improving how patients are diagnosed and treated. Earlier, more accurate insights allow our clinical teams to guide more personalised care from the start,” says Nicholas Thorne, hospital manager at Life Hilton Private Hospital.

While PET-CT is a key diagnostic tool in cancer care, the hospital’s nuclear medicine unit also includes SPECT-CT. “Combining CT with SPECT on a single platform allows far greater flexibility in how we diagnose and manage patients. SPECT-CT allows us to assess how organs such as the heart, bones and thyroid are functioning,” explains Dr Soni.

For patients, this means they can often access the right scan closer to home, with fewer referrals and delays. For clinicians, it enables more comprehensive insights and more confident, timely decision-making across a wider range of conditions.

Patients are encouraged to consult with their treating specialists and medical aid providers about the role that PET‑CT imaging may play in their cancer diagnosis and treatment journey.

Contact Life Hilton Private Hospital for information on the new PET-CT and SPECT-CT Services

Learn more about PET-CT and diagnostic nuclear imaging here.