Radiology society signals innovations in radiology
Mammography done with digital direct radiology (DR) is more effective at detecting breast cancer than when it is done with computed radiography, research shows.
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This informed the remarkable story of the Royal Philips’ breakthrough innovations that was told at the just-ended 99th Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Illinois.
Developed in collaboration with leading clinicians, Philips’ Vereos Digital PET/CT System and IQon Spectral CT System1 are designed to shorten and improve patient care; an illustration of Philip’s technological leadership in medical imaging and commitment to providing solutions that clearly signal a new era in radiology.
According to the Chairman of the Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Case Medical Centre and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, Dr Pablo Ros, the timing and precision of disease diagnosis are critical to the successful treatment of many diseases.
He said “With that in mind, we are excited to have contributed to the development of Philips’ Vereos Digital PET/CT and IQon Spectral CT systems, and we will continue to collaborate with Philips to realise the potential of these next generation imaging systems.”
The two CT systems
PET scans are three-dimensional images that provide insight into what is happening inside the body at the molecular and cellular level. A small amount of radiotracer is injected into the patient prior to the examination, which accumulates in the body’s tissue and organs and decays. The PET detector captures pairs of photons that are emitted from the body during this decay process and forms the image.
Vereos PET/CT is the first PET/CT system in the industry to use innovative digital silicon photomultiplier detectors instead of traditional analog detectors.
Philips’ second RSNA introduction – the IQon Spectral CT System – is the world’s first spectral-detector CT system built from the ground up for spectral imaging. It uses colour to identify the composition of an image but does not involve time-consuming protocols.
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With the development of a fundamentally new spectral detector that can discriminate between X-ray photons of multiple high and low energies simultaneously, Philips’ IQon Spectral CT adds a new dimension to CT imaging, delivering not only anatomical information but also the ability to characterise structures based on their material makeup within a single scan.
“Personalised medicine will require a patient-specific picture of the functional processes associated with diseases,” added Pablo Ros. He stressed that “accurate quantification of processes is, therefore, an important requirement for functional imaging in diagnosis, therapy and research.”
Collaboration with radiologists
“We work closely with radiologists to understand their biggest challenges and incorporate these in the development of innovative products like Vereos PET/CT and IQon Spectral CT to meet their complex imaging needs,” said Gene Saragnese, CEO, Imaging Systems at Philips Healthcare.
“These innovations demonstrate how Philips is providing radiologists with exceptional quality and accuracy in imaging at low dose rates, helping clinicians to get answers, the first time around, so that they can deliver accurate and more confident diagnoses to patients,” he said.
Working in close collaboration with leading clinicians in the field of minimally invasive medicine, Philips has been driving innovation in interventional imaging for more than 50 years, helping to guide procedures such as the catheter-based treatment of obstructed arteries, cerebral and aortic aneurysms and peripheral vascular disease.
“At Philips, we are dedicated to delivering meaningful innovations that address some of the key challenges that health systems and hospitals are facing today,” said Deborah DiSanzo, CEO, Philips Healthcare. “Only by working closely with clinicians and customers can we develop potentially game-changing products like our EPIQ Ultrasound System and AlluraClarity Interventional X-ray system – imaging solutions that enable clinicians to provide the best possible care to patients, from diagnosis to treatment and after care. This is how we create the future of healthcare.”