From the November 2021 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine

An estimated 375 million CT procedures are performed annually and grow 3%-4% per year. Demand significantly increased in the wake of the pandemic as a majority of countries immediately seeking out and purchasing CT equipment for lung screenings. Despite these new purchases, capacity for traditional unit shipments did not reach its full potential annually. But as a result, Frost & Sullivan expects there to be pent-up demand for CTs to fulfill needs-based requirements.

New applications at play include photon-counting detector technology, machine learning, deep learning and spectral imaging, according to the report. AI-powered CT, in particular, is expected to make a splash by enhancing cancer detection and helping to better handle large volumes of patients. Frost & Sullivan projects regulatory approvals in the next year or two, with a significant uptake by 2025. It advises that CT manufacturers be transparent and flexible in their prices for such devices and partner with startups to reap the benefits early on.


Frost & Sullivan sees both traditional and mobile CT increasing in use, with mobile increasing the number of participants in the market. Top manufacturers that offer a broad range of CTs will especially benefit, it says. Reimbursement approval from current CPT and European regulations are expected to push CT into the cardiac realm. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, in fact, recently performed the first cardiac scan with a new photon-counting detector CT. With it, providers were able to see clear images of the heart and blood vessels, and could even capture a small fraction of one heartbeat by "freezing" the motion.

Siemens gets first FDA clearance for photon-counting CT in US
Marking the first clearance in nearly a decade for any significant advancement in CT, the FDA gave the nod to Siemens' photon-counting scanner NAEOTOM Alpha in October.

Unlike conventional CT scanners, which uses detectors to measure total energy contained in many X-rays at one time, photon-counting detectors measure each individual X-ray that passes through a patient’s body. By "counting" each individual X-ray photon, the scanner can collect more detailed information about the patient. It can then form images that reflect the most useful information to help clinicians make better decisions around diagnosis and treatment, and personalize care.

NAEOTOM Alpha is designed to use photon-counting to produce detailed 3D images. The images can be used to train physicians in diagnosing patients and by staff to make diagnoses, prepare treatment, and in radiation therapy planning.

November 2021 Magazine

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