Physicians at Northside Hospital are the first to use Siemens Healthcare’s new SOMATOM Perspective computed tomography (CT) system, a 128-slice scanner designed to deliver high image quality and low-dose radiation. This is the first U.S. installation of the system, which is available at Northside’s Tower Imaging.
The non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure, which uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce detailed pictures, or “slices,” of the body, allows physicians to pinpoint disease earlier – from bone fractures and concussions to infections and blood clots – with greater precision and without surgery. The technology may be used to study blood vessels; guide a surgeon to the right area during a biopsy; and identify masses and tumors, including cancer.
The SOMATOM Perspective 128-slice CT system provides high quality CT scans at the lowest radiation dose possible for the patient. Included as a standard option on the SOMATOM Perspective is SAFIRE (Sinogram Affirmed Iterative Reconstruction), the latest radiation-dose-saving technology. To the patient, the lowest possible radiation dose is as critical as high image quality. SAFIRE helps reduce patient radiation dose by up to 60 percent, compared to previous techniques.