SAHZU has officially installed Zhejiang's first 2‑meter long‑axis PET/CT system at its Pan‑Vascular and Metabolic Center (Bo'ao campus). This next‑generation molecular imaging device offers a single‑bed field of view that covers the entire body of most patients, enabling "one‑scan, whole‑body" imaging.

Compared with conventional PET/CT (axial field of view typically 20–30 cm), the new system delivers several clinical advantages:

Scan speed – whole‑body PET scan can be completed in 30 seconds, with images available within 3 minutes, greatly reducing examination time for elderly or frail patients.

Radiation dose – sensitivity is 40 times higher than conventional systems, allowing tracer activity to be reduced to as low as one‑tenth of routine levels – particularly beneficial for patients requiring repeated scans, such as those with cancer, and for paediatric cases.

Resolution – higher spatial resolution improves detection of small lesions, including millimeter‑sized metastatic foci, supporting earlier diagnosis and more accurate staging.

4D dynamic whole‑body imaging – the system captures the real‑time distribution and metabolism of radiotracers throughout the body, offering new insights for drug development and research into systemic diseases.

The device has already been used in a lymphoma patient suspected of relapse. It clearly visualised multiple recurrent lesions, including popliteal lymph nodes – areas not typically covered by conventional scanners – thus enabling more targeted treatment planning.

Patient eligibility and considerations
Long‑axis PET/CT is not indicated for everyone. It may offer additional benefit for:

·Patients who require multiple PET/CT evaluations or combined probes,

·Children or critically ill patients who cannot remain still for long periods, and

·Those with suspected or confirmed malignant lesions in the lower extremities.

For routine clinical needs, conventional PET/CT remains sufficient.