Regency Medical Imaging has joined the ranks of the country’s premier healthcare providers that offer patients access to the world’s most advanced multislice computed tomography (CT) system by recently installing a 64-slice CT scanner from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.

Featuring the most sophisticated multislice CT technologies available, the 64-slice CT scanner can capture precise images of any area of the body in as little as a ten second breathhold. The fast scanning capabilities and unmatched image quality offer significant benefits for a quick and accurate diagnosis. For example, a chest exam, which takes 20-30 minutes with a standard CT scanner, can now be performed in just 19 seconds with images that allow physicians to see internal injuries and disease in greater detail than ever before.

Toledo and surrounding area residents now have access to state-of-the-art CT imaging technology at Regency Medical Imaging,” says Peter Royen, M.D., Medical Director. “With the 64-slice CT, our physicians are seeing more anatomical information than previously thought possible, which means we can diagnose problems like blood clots, infections and cancer in greater detail and with more clarity. As a result, we now have the ability to make an accurate diagnosis at earlier stages, which means that patients can begin receiving treatment sooner for potentially better outcomes.”

With the coverage and the speed capabilities of this CT scanner, a wider range of patients also may have more options to undergo noninvasive procedures. For example, the system can be used to more accurately visualize soft plaque and measure coronary stenosis for the detection of heart disease, which has historically required more invasive or surgical procedures to confirm a diagnosis.

Another benefit of this 64-slice CT scanner is that its detector features a highly efficient ceramic material that is able to reduce the overall radiation exposure to patients. The system’s dose control features provide up to a 40 percent total dose reduction for the patient to make exams as safe and comfortable as possible. The system also accommodates the scanning of both large and taller patients with the ability to expand its field-of-view to accommodate specific patient sizes and clinical needs.

WHAT DOES 64-SLICE MEAN?
This CT system produces unmatched multislice clinical images that capture up to 64 simultaneous anatomical slices of 0.5 mm in a single gantry rotation. In addition, the system’s sensitivity and accuracy are enhanced with a process called isotropic scanning, which results in images that most accurately capture equal views and angles of internal structures.

As a result, 64-slice technology captures precise images of the body’s rapidly moving organs like the heart and lungs, which can appear blurry when scanned by a traditional CT. Multislice imaging also is especially useful for examining patients who are unable to hold their breath, acutely ill patients, young children and patients who have metal in their bodies and therefore, cannot have an MRI study.

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WHAT MAKES A CT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY STUDIES?
While CT uses X-ray technology, it is distinguished form other diagnostic imaging tools like traditional X-ray and MRI by its ability to display a combination of soft tissue (like muscles, tissue, organs and fat), bones and blood vessels all in a single image. CT scans can diagnose kidney, lung, liver, spine, blood diseases, cancer, tumors and cysts, as well as blood clots, hemorrhages and infections.

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WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CT EXAM?
During a CT exam, a patient lies on a table and is slowly moved into the large donut-shaped opening called a gantry. Once inside, a series of X-ray beams create hundreds of cross-sectional pictures that represent slices of the patient’s body. Seconds later, the system’s computer assembles the slices into three-dimensional images that are interpreted by a clinician.

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