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The objective of the “International CT Image Contest” was to achieve the best possible image quality with the lowest possible dose using a Siemens CT scanner from the Somatom Definition family

In an effort to support radiologists expand their know-how regarding dose reduction, Siemens Healthcare sponsored the “International CT Image Contest”. The objective of the contest was to achieve the best possible image quality with the lowest possible dose using a Siemens CT scanner from the Somatom Definition family. In the meantime, around 300 clinical images have been submitted from more than 30 countries and were evaluated by a jury of internationally renowned professors. Here, it was possible to submit images for various body regions and from various fields of application. The winners have been announced today. They are from Belgium, China, Japan, Canada, Portugal and Sweden. The unanimous verdict of the jury: not only are the images of the winners of high quality, they convincingly show that very high diagnostic value can be achieved with an extremely low dose and that even very fine details can be displayed beyond any doubt. The winning images will be exhibited at the ECR ( European Congress of Radiology ) 2010 in Vienna.

xcellent image quality is an essential requirement in computed tomography ( CT ). At the same time, the patient’s radiation exposure should be kept as low as possible. Siemens wanted to motivate its customers to utilize the dose reduction hardware and software of their CT scanners to the full extent and share their experiences with other users of Siemens CT scanners. For this reason, the company initiated the “International CT Image Contest” from October 1, 2009 to February 1, 2010. Customers who use a CT scanner from the SOMATOM Definition family were able to submit clinical images in six categories, i.e. Cardiac, Vascular, Neuro, Thorax, Abdomen and Pelvis and Dual Energy, to an international jury of recognized clinical image experts. A “fan community” numbering more than 1400 members discussed the submitted images on Facebook. In addition, every internet user could select their “favorite image” in a public voting. The objective was to increase the general public’s awareness of the responsibility which manufacturers and radiologists have regarding diagnostic radiation and to inform them about the topic of dose.

“We are very pleased that so many good images taken with the lowest possible dose were submitted. We are proud of the fact that our modern technology is utilized by an ever increasing number of clinical teams to achieve dose savings and thus serves to improve patient health”, said Sami Atiya, PhD, CEO of Computed Tomography at Siemens Healthcare. “Because radiation protection and dose reduction in CT have always had top priority at Siemens.”

The winners for each category were announced at the European Congress of Radiology 2010 ( ECR 2010 ).

The members of the jury included Professor Stephan Achenbach from the University of Erlangen, Professor Dominik Fleischmann from Stanford University Medical Center, Professor Elliot K. Fishman from Johns Hopkins Hospital, Professor Yutaka Imai from the Tokai University School of Medicine, Professor Zengyu Jin from Peking Medical Union College, Professor Borut Marincek from the University Hospital Zurich, Professor Maximilian Reiser from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich and Professor Uwe Joseph Schoepf from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Back in 1999 Siemens scientists and engineers developed the first ECG-synchronized dose modulation system for cardiac imaging ("ECG-pulsing"). Studies indicate a typical dose reduction in cardiac examinations of 30 to 50 percent compared with examinations without ECG-pulsing. Another example of Siemens innovations promoting dose reduction is Care Dose4D, the first fully automated radiation exposure control system. It adapts the dose to the patient’s anatomy in real time and delivers an additional dose reduction of up to 68 percent, depending on the region of the body concerned. In 2007 Siemens introduced its “Adaptive Dose Shield”. This technology uses a dynamic collimator attached to the tube to eliminate any radiation not used for image reconstruction, thus reducing overexposure. Depending on the scan length and table feed, the radiation dose is reduced by up to 25 percent.

A breakthrough in CT technology occurred when Siemens introduced the first Dual Source CT scanner in 2005. Since the Somatom Definition Dual Source CT scanner has two acquisition systems instead of the single system conventionally used, it can acquire scans of the heart in the extremely short exposure time of just 83 ms. The heart movements of patients with a fast heart rate or an arrhythmic heart beat are thus virtually "frozen", making it possible to acquire sharply focused images of the relevant structures, e.g. coronary arteries. In November 2008, Siemens reached another milestone for dose reduction: The Somatom Definition Flash, which is also a Dual Source CT scanner, can scan an image of the entire heart in about one quarter of a second, i.e. less than half a heartbeat. The resulting radiation dose amounts to less than one millisievert (mSv), while the average effective dose for heart scans usually ranges from 8 to 30 mSv.

Source: Siemens Healthcare