FOCUS Scanner boosts
FOCUS Scanner boosts diagnosis at Tshepong Hospital A R13-million CT scanner has been acquired by the Radiology Unit. Dr Magome Masike, MEC for Health, officially opens the new diagnostic unit at Tshepong Hospital Radiology Unit on 13 April 2018. Communities in the North West now have access to the latest diagnostic technology with the unveiling in 2018 of a Toshiba 160 slice CT Scan with Canon Aquilion CT system at the Radiology Unit of the Tshepong Hospital. The MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike, officially launched the state-of-the-art CT Scan in April 2018. “This is part of the plan by management of the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex, together with the North West Department of Health authorities, to continually improve hospital services by introducing this new advanced CT Scan,” said Dr Masike. This now means easy access to the latest technology has been made possible for the community and the facility reduces the number of patient referrals to Gauteng hospitals. The acquisition of the new Toshiba 160 slice CT Scan, which is valued at more than R13-million, was made possible through the National Tertiary Services Grant, and is the first of its kind in the Southern Region. The Aquilion Prime has a small footprint but a long scan range, a wide 78cm gantry aperture and can scan patients that weigh up to 205kg. These features make it perfect for long trauma cases or cancer (oncology) staging cases. On the Aquilion prime CT routine, 160-row ultra-helical acquisition is 43% faster than the conventional 128-detector row helical systems. This increased acquisition speed results in shorter scan times, decreased contrast usage and costs, and improved image quality due to decreased movement artefacts. The scan reconstruction rate is ultra-fast and an insta-view of 0.5mm or 1mm volume can be scrolled through immediately after scanning has been completed. The machine also boosts with Sure Subtraction which is standard on the system and allows true digital subtraction angiography where the bone is subtracted and not segmented and cut away as on conventional workstations. This makes angiography of difficult areas very easy, quick to do and much more accurate. For cardiology patients, Sure cardio prospective is a huge benefit when performing cardiac examinations because this is made easier even for less experienced operators. The software assists the operator. Polaki Mokatsane, CEO of the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019 12
FOCUS North West Provincial Government Complex, is very pleased with the new technology. “This CT Scan boosts with AIDR-3D Integrated Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction works together with Sure Exposure 3D on the system. This ensures that the best image quality will always be achieved, with the least possible radiation exposure to the patient according to the ALARA principle. This CT Scan system not only modulates MA but also boasts Sure KV and modulates it according to the patient size.” One of the greatest challenges in computed tomography is the interpretation of routine scans in patients with metallic implants. The artefacts caused by the presence of metal can severely obscure nearby structures, making clinical diagnosis difficult or even impossible. Toshiba’s innovative SEMAR (Single-Energy Metal Artefact Reduction) overcomes this. Its high technology employs a sophisticated reconstruction algorithm to eliminate artefacts caused by metal while improving visualisation of the implants, its supporting bone and adjacent soft tissues for an accurate diagnosis. “We are sure this new CT Scan system will not only improve the workflow and reduce patient waiting lists, but also offer additional examinations like Cardiac CT, CT Colonography and CT Digital Subtraction Angiography,” said Polaki Mokatsane. By Nico Masiu The Toshiba 160 slice CT Scan with Canon Aquilion CT system. 13 NORTH WEST BUSINESS 2019
