SEATTLE, June 7, 2011 - Stroke accounts for approximately one in every 18 deaths in the U.S. and is the third most common cause of death, according to the American Heart Association. With three-fourths of strokes occurring in people over 65 and it being such a widespread event, the cost of treating stroke is astronomical. At the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) annual meeting in Seattle, June 4-9, 2011, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. is showcasing the advanced imaging capabilities of the world's first dynamic volume CT system, the AquilionTM ONE, in improving stroke diagnosis and patient outcomes while achieving cost efficiencies.

The introduction of Toshiba's Aquilion ONE dynamic volume CT system changed the scope of cerebral perfusion analysis by enabling dynamic imaging of the entire brain and the ability to reduce diagnosis time from hours or days to minutes. Unlike any other CT system available, the Aquilion ONE covers up to 16 cm of anatomy using 320 ultra-high resolution, 0.5- mm detector elements to image an entire organ, including the brain, in a single rotation. It can acquire a dynamic whole brain CT DSA and perfusion in a single 60-second exam, enabling a rapid and accurate diagnosis when time is critical.

In all types of imaging, the Aquilion ONE features a full suite of dose reduction technologies that limit radiation dose to the lowest possible amounts while maintaining the highest clinically appropriate image quality needed for diagnosis. The numerous advanced dose reduction features of the system help make CT imaging safer for patients.
To quantify the results of utilizing the Aquilion ONE in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, Toshiba partnered with Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital, world-class neurological and stroke care center and major affiliate of the University of Buffalo, to conduct a retrospective and prospective study on its effectiveness in treating these patients with the new technology. The goal of the non-controlled study was to measure the economic impact that 320-detector row CT has had on the diagnostic workup of patients presenting with symptoms of acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). When Millard Fillmore analyzed the length of stay, discharge disposition and healthcare costs for the top three ICD-9-CM codes for stroke and compared the before and after data sets, the results demonstrated the benefits 320-detector row technology brought to the facility and its patient community. For the three stroke ICD-9-CM codes analyzed, Millard Fillmore found a reduction in hospital stay, had more patients discharged to home and achieved an approximate annualized savings of more than $750,000.

More HCB News