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Imaging

“This technology is here to stay”

At the front line of stroke and neurological care, photon-counting computed tomography (CT) comes with high resolution both in-plane and cross-plane to enable physicians evaluate fine lesions and anatomical structures.
4min
Doris Pischitz
Published on 28. November 2022

Associate Professor Tobias Granberg, MD, PhD, speaks about his expectations and experiences.

When did you start using photon-counting CT and what were your expectations?

Looking at neurology specifically, what were the limitations of traditional CT scanners?

Where and how has photon-counting been able to overcome these limitations?

Tobias Granberg reports on photo-counting CT in neurology.

We’ve been able to reduce contrast agent dose by about 30 percent so far.

Associate Professor Tobias Granberg, MD, PhD, Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

You specialize in neurodegenerative diseases. Has the availability of photon-counting technology opened up any additional or new fields for CT in your area?

How do improved image contrast and higher spatial resolution affect your diagnoses?

Photon-counting CT scan of the temporal bone

[Figure 1] Low-dose pediatric temporal bone scan (DLP 49) showing the stapes (arrow) in ultra-high resolution.

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 the availability of monoenergetic images for every scan assist physicians in making a diagnosis or follow-up?

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?

CT angiography of the cervical and intracranial vessels acquired with photon-counting CT
[Figure 2a] CT angiography of the cervical and intracranial vessels with a 50-percent reduction in the contrast dose in a patient with impaired renal function demonstrating a high-grade stenosis of the left posterior cerebral artery (arrow).

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?

Is there anything else you would like to mention to our readers?

By Doris Pischitz
Doris Pischitz is an editor in corporate communications at Siemens Healthineers. The team specializes in topics related to healthcare, medical technology, disease areas, and digitalization.

  1. 1 NAEOTOM Alpha is not commercially available in all countries. Its future availability cannot be guaranteed.

  2. 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.