“The photon-counting CT scanner is our workhorse”
In cardiac imaging, photon-counting computed tomography (CT) visualizes small coronary vessels, stents, and plaques in high resolution and helps physicians provide precise answers to guide treatment and therapy decisions.
Cardiologist and radiologist Professor Pál Maurovich-Horvat, MD1, reports on the experiences he made with the new technology.
When did you start using photon-counting CT and what were your expectations?
Looking at cardiology specifically, what were the limitations of traditional CT scanners?
Where and how has photon-counting been able to overcome these limitations?
[Figure 1] 63-year-old man with shortness of breath. The patient underwent coronary stent implantation multiple times and had 8 stents implanted in total in the left and right coronary arteries. The arrow shows a focal, severe in stent restenosis at the ostium of the LAD.)
How do improved image contrast and higher spatial resolution affect your diagnoses?
Which patients benefit in particular, also with regard to lower radiation dose and less use of contrast media?
How and in which cases are you using the spectral information now available from a single scan? How does it help you evaluate patients with heavy calcifications, for instance?
The scanner provides high image quality in every field.
Professor Pál Maurovich-Horvat, MD, Chairman of Radiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
How are you using photon-counting for standard examinations? How does the technology perform in these cases?
Could you please describe one or two patient cases where photon-counting has been particularly helpful?
[Figure 2] 62-year-old man with atypical chest pain. The arrows indicate severe stenosis in the dominant LCx and in the proximal LAD.
How do you deal with the increased depth of information per exam? How could artificial intelligence (AI) help deal with the depth of information today and in the future?
How do you see the role of CT evolving in your specialty with photon-counting technology?
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1 Professor Pál Maurovich-Horvat, MD, receives financial support from Siemens Healthineers for collaborations.
2 NAEOTOM Alpha is not commercially available in all countries. Its future availability cannot be guaranteed.
- The statements by Siemens Healthineers’ customers described herein are based on results that were achieved in the customer's unique setting. Because there is no “typical” hospital or laboratory and many variables exist (e.g., hospital size, samples mix, case mix, level of IT and/or automation adoption) there can be no guarantee that other customers will achieve the same results