New Ct Scans That Look Deeper Into Disease

[RichGotsPots]

Hi Everyone,

All of use take tons of tests which exposes us to radiation. Sometimes these test don't show enough and we have to do more invasive procedures. I found want to help everyone reduce this...

For example I'm checking out my lungs for scarring, hypertension and clotting and I read about High Resolution CT scans. I asked my Lung Doctor and he says," all CT scans are the same, it's how they view them that makes them high resolution," He is very smart went to U. of Chicago Med and fellowed at John Hopkins. But he obviously does not know a thing about radiology.

All CT scans are not created equal and they are not high resolution just because of the way they are viewed. Most CT scanners are 16, 32 or 64 slice and no one tells you what type they have.

But doing a ton of research (as usual lol) I stumbled on the latest CT scanner technology. They make 64 slice look like Atari Vs. XBOX 360.

Toshiba Medical makes them and they are called Aquillion One or Premium they have 320 slice, that is 5 times more powerful imaging and they expose you to less radiation! They have 3D and 4D imagine! They are so powerful that radiologist can use less contrast dyes to view arterial images. They also make completely new type of imaging available to check blood flow and and other things in 3D.

Only one problem, they are very expensive machines, the 1st ones that came out in 2007 were $1 million plus. For us that means there are very few hospital that have them in the country. John Hopkins and U. of Chicago were among the 1st. There is only one in my state of NJ. And they are not easy to find.

My Suggestion is that you google Aquillion CT and your state. What I'm going to also do is wait on getting my scan and go to a neurologist and other specialists and get more CT scripts so that I will end up getting many things scanned in one shot. Also I'm going to go use doctors that belong to the hospital that uses this scanner, that way they will be giving their own hospitals business, and they will know about it (might even suggest it themselves) and it will be easier to get the scripts

http://medical.toshiba.com/products/ct/dynamic-volume/clinical-cardiac-01.php

[juliegee]

Very interesting, Rich. How can I find out if there is one in GA?

[anaphylaxing]

The lower radiation dose is a HUGE benefit. One thing though, higher resolution does not always equal a better image as you get and increased amout of noise/pixellation/artifact the higher the resolution which is actually detrimental when looking at some structures in anatomy. Eg they've found the old school "1 slice" scanner might actually be more accurate for brain imaging than all of the fancier modalities. HRCT is VERY Good for processes such as interstitialy lung disease like sarcoidosis, asbestosis etc

[anaphylaxing]

meant to add less contrast is also a HUGE benefit as it was 150 cc of contrast that started me with MCAD/POTS/AI you name it!

[RichGotsPots]

Just read the material on Toshiba's website and you'll see it's not just higher resolution if higher slicing. If you have a 32 slice machine and you up the resolution it might be not good but this is high slicing so it gets a much better, clear image.

[derekliz]

Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta got one in 2008 http://www.piedmonthospital.org/wtn/Page.asp?PageID=WTN000112

[juliegee]

Wow, thanks derekliz. Nest time they decide to scan my body looking for aneurysms (run in the family), I'll try to go there!

[RichGotsPots]

University of Chicago med, has one

John Hopkins has one

Columbia Presbyterian in NYC

Overlook Hospital in NJ