Lee Health Imaging at Southwest Florida Proton Center Now Open

In December, Lee Health Imaging, in partnership with Southwest Florida Proton Center, opened its doors in South Lee County. The new center helps Southwest Florida patients receive diagnoses, treatment and easier access to medical services.

This new technology will help ensure that physicians have the tools to create the most effective treatment plan possible. The quick and painless tests available at Lee Health Imaging at Southwest Florida Proton also help ensure seamless and supportive care for our community. 

The Lee Health Imaging outpatient center is the first at Lee Health to offer the 3T MRI magnet, which produces high-resolution images with a magnetic field twice as strong as a standard MRI. The outpatient center also offers CT scans and PET scans. 

What is a 3T MRI?

Similar to traditional MRI, the 3T MRI is a radiation-free procedure that uses magnets and radio waves to capture images of soft tissues, bones, fat, and muscles. In some cases, the 3T MRI machine improves image quality and speeds up the imaging process.

Enhanced Image Clarity

The 3T magnet is the most powerful magnet available, offering the clearest images compared to other MRI machines. Patients experiencing neurological issues, minor joint problems, or conditions requiring highly detailed images can greatly benefit from the superior imaging capabilities of the 3T MRI.

Quicker Procedures

Faster imaging is possible for large organs when high resolution isn't critical. A conventional MRI typically requires approximately 30 minutes, but a comparable procedure with a 3T MRI may take only 15–20 minutes. The reduced time is beneficial to those suffering from intense pain.

Reduces Anxiety

MRIs can be challenging for individuals who are claustrophobic, obese, elderly, in significant pain, or have limited mobility. The Wide-Bore 3T MRI machine features a larger opening and shorter tube length to maximize patient comfort.

The Lee Health diagnostic imaging suite at Southwest Florida Proton also offers:

• Diagnostic CT scan: A CT, or computed tomography, scan uses special X-rays to take pictures of your body in "slices" to see inside you from different angles.
• PET scan: A PET, or positron emission tomography, scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test that uses radioactive substances (tracers) to visualize metabolic processes in the body. It helps doctors see how well organs and tissues are working, and can detect early signs of disease, especially cancer

Coming Soon! Proton Therapy: A Breakthrough Cancer Treatment

Later this year, Southwest Florida Proton will make history as Southwest Florida’s first proton treatment center, a landmark achievement in cancer care.

This historic development represents a lifesaving resource for cancer patients seeking world-class treatment options in our area. Proton therapy is geographically limited in the U.S., so many patients must travel for treatment, away from their support system and healthcare teams. 

Proton therapy is a non-invasive, painless, advanced radiation treatment that uses a highly precise proton beam instead of X-rays to destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional radiation, proton therapy can zero in on tumors while causing much less damage to the healthy tissues around them. This means patients experience the lowest potential short- and long-term side effects possible during and after treatment.

To learn more about how proton therapy works as a treatment option for different types of cancer, visit here. 

WATCH HEALTH MATTERS: The Power and Precision of Proton Therapy