“The ability to visualize pulmonary hemodynamics without contrast using images acquired with standard X-ray systems is groundbreaking. This is another important step in realizing our vision of contributing to life changing advances by transforming primary imaging. Our focus every day is to create new value for our customers by providing greater insights and intelligent answers which lead to better decisions, sooner,” says Kirsten Doerfert, Senior VP of Marketing, Konica Minolta Healthcare.

Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas congratulates the research group of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, including Professor Kousei Ishigami, Assistant Professor Yuzo Yamasaki of the Department of Clinical Radiology, Lecturer Kohtaro Abe of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, and others, in collaboration with Konica Minolta on the recognition of their work to visualize pulmonary hemodynamics without contrast media using Konica Minolta’s Dynamic Digital Radiography.

About Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc.
Konica Minolta Healthcare is a world-class provider and market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and healthcare information technology. The company’s focus is to contribute to life changing advances through the transformation of primary imaging, allowing the invisible to be seen. Primary imaging, the most commonly used medical imaging technologies, include X-ray, ultrasound and imaging management systems. By advancing these readily available technologies, we can bring greater diagnostic capabilities to the greatest number of people.

With nearly 150 years of endless innovation, imaging is in Konica Minolta’s DNA. From roots as a camera and film manufacturer, the company has cultivated its own technologies and continues to evolve techniques for visualizing what is not visible. Innovation allows the company to be a strong strategic partner, understanding what value means to customers and how Konica Minolta’s innovations can address specific needs and lead to better decisions, sooner.

Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Inc., headquartered in Wayne, NJ, is a division of Konica Minolta, Inc.

In this retrospective study, 50 patients with pulmonary hypertension diagnosed via right heart catheterization and invasive pulmonary angiography underwent dynamic X-ray imaging, with 7-10 seconds of inspiratory breath holding, using a Konica Minolta AeroDR® HD flat panel detector and pulsed X-ray system (RADspeed Pro, Shimadzu). Each patient also had conventional chest radiography and underwent a lung V/Q study on a SPECT/CT system with intravenous injection of technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin, 185 MBq. Of the 50 patients, 29 met the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for CTEPH and 21 were classified as non-CTEPH.

Dr. Yamasaki and co-authors reported similar sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of DDR (97% and 92%, respectively) compared to V/Q (100% and 94%, respectively) with the same specificity (86%). The agreement between DDR and V/Q interpretations was substantial (κ = 0.79 [95% CI: 0.61, 0.96] percent agreement=0.9 [95% CI: 0.79, 0.95]) and the interobserver agreements for both DDR and V/Q scans (κ = 0.71 and κ = 0.73, respectively) were also significant. Two chest radiologists evaluated the DDR images and two nuclear medicine physicians evaluated the V/Q data.

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