Imaging
“The most important step since the advent of multislice CT”
Photon-counting computed tomography (CT) redefines clinical decision-making in oncology by providing physicians with all relevant CT results with one single scan.
4min
Published on January 3, 2023
Professor Jiri Ferda, MD, PhD, talks about the initial steps with the new technology in both research and clinical practice.
When did you start using photon-counting CT and what were your expectations?
Looking at oncology specifically, what were the limitations of traditional CT scanners?
Where and how has photon-counting been able to overcome these limitations?
We can better delineate the tumor invasion and can very frequently better visualize the enhanced tumorous tissue.
Professor Jiri Ferda, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen, Czech Republic
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 the availability of monoenergetic images for every scan assist physicians in making a diagnosis or follow-up?
[Figure 1] The ability to boost contrast media enhancement and to prove uptake as a sign of malignancy enabled the early detection of this rare malignancy and led to timely therapeutic adjustments.
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] Imaging of pathologies of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract is often challenging because chronic tissue changes and their consequences, like ulcer of the stomach wall, must be differentiated from onsets of malignancies, preferably at a very early stage. In this example, the ability to enhance vessels and hyperperfused tissue to a degree not feasible with conventional CT techniques clearly illustrates the advances for imaging and understanding such pathologies.
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?
1 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.