Health Imaging & IT - January 2008 - (Page 18)

A Look Inside Next-Generation Multidetector CT allowing hospitals short on real estate to shoehorn the system into spaces previously too small to house a CT suite. At the same time, the table and gantry accommodate patients weighing up to 650 pounds. On the clinical front, Definition AS is a good fit for the expansion of perfusion imaging in CT. Physicians can use the scanner for perfusion imaging of the entire brain, which could be a valuable tool in the early detection of stroke. Schoepf also envisions using the new system to detect changes in tumor morphology and tumor perfusion and thus assess a patient’s response to chemotherapy. CT will play an increasingly key role in facilitating techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, targeted chemotherapy and brachytherapy, says Schoepf. These minimally invasive therapies require image guidance, and Definition AS offers the speed and resolution necessary to enable them. CT meets HD Last summer, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wis., began exploring the nextgeneration of CT scanners. Dennis Foley, MD, director of imaging, and his colleagues are evaluating GE Healthcare’s new HDCT technologies on a modified LightSpeed VCT scanner. Comprising a front-to-back redesign, HDCT enables dual-energy imaging and improved registration in conjunction with iterative reconstruction. A modified garnet gemstone scintillator improves x-ray conversion speed. The clinical upshot? “It produces very sharp images of the coronary arteries and abdominal visceral arteries,” says Foley. Projection-based, dual-energy data processing reduces beam hardening artifacts. In addition, the scanner tackles one of the primary impediments in coronary imaging. That is, it is expected to subtract out coronary calcium in images. Calcium can obscure diagnosis in cardiac cases, so the ability to subtract it should enhance diagnostic capabilities. Other potential clinical applications include iodine separation, accurate autobone removal in 3D assessments and material decomposition. Dual-energy CT should improve body imaging, too, providing increased sensitivity with less contrast media. The new technology also overhauls software and enables iterative reconstruction for improved image quality. GE expects to file for FDA clearance in the first half of 2008. CT: The next stage Radiology is re-inventing CT imaging. The newest scanners prove that CT will continue to play a central role in the clinical arena, opening new applications ranging from CTguided interventions to brain perfusion imaging and improving standard exams by providing superior resolution. Difficult Decisions Demystified The wider array of CT scanners is a boon to health imaging; however, the new diversity in the market does present a challenge. How do sites decide which scanner best meets their needs? Here are a few pointers to guide hospitals and imaging centers through that tough call. Ü Determine the budget and any financial constraints. Can the scanner be shared with another department—such as radiology and cardiology—to offset expense? Ü Evaluate the structural environment and scanner suite. Verify the footprint of the suite; some space-strapped sites can house water-cooled systems only, says U. Joseph Schoepf, MD, associate professor of radiology and medicine, at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, S.C. Ü The most important factor in the decision, says Schoepf, is the analysis of the facility’s clinical needs. Hospitals eyeing the cardiovascular market may want to tap into a dual-source or higher slice-count scanner that provides a solid foundation for cardiac imaging. Hospitals with stroke centers should review the brain perfusion capabilities of various systems. Even facilities looking for a bread-andbutter CT solution may opt for higher-slice systems, says Schoepf. That’s because a state-of-the-art system is the best way to avoid obsolescence. Plus, a high-end system provides a means of differentiating a practice from local competitors. Hospitals and imaging centers that can not afford a top-of-the-line CT scanner, but anticipate growth over the next three to five years, should inquire about upgradeability and ensure that the new system facilitates future uncomplicated upgrades. Finally, scanners destined for siting outside of radiology in areas like the ED, interventional radiology or radiation oncology should fit the clinical needs of the “home base.” 18 Health Imaging & IT | January 2008 HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - January 2008

Health Imaging & IT Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise: Is More Better? News Update A Look Inside Next-Generation Multidetector CT Convention Spotlight: RSNA in Review RIS/PACS in the Imaging Center Sweden: A Study in Mammography Excellence The Votes are in: Yea for Speech in U.S. Capital & Beyond Subspecialty Reading Services: Quality Reads, Peace of Mind, 24/7 Enterprise Lung CAD Eases Workflow Advertisers Index Company Index Coming Soon Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - January 2008

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