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Toshiba Also Announces Key Benefits of Large Bore CT


New CT scanner specifically designed for cancer patients lets physicians locate, treat tumors more accurately.

With CT scanners playing a key role in the detection and treatment of cancer, the leading cause of death among Americans under age 85, TAMS has introduced a new "large bore" CT scanner specifically designed for cancer patients.

The Aquilion LB CT scanner has a larger-than-normal opening so that radiation oncologists can move their patients into crucial exam positions - without being limited by the size of the scanner's opening, as with other models - in order to capture the most accurate images possible and position the patient for optimal treatment. They then can use these images to better detect, localize and treat tumors during radiation therapy.

Because radiation therapy involves directing a radiation beam from a machine at the tumor, it's vital that radiation oncologists are able to precisely locate and measure the size and position of a patient's tumor during CT scans, so they can target the tumor and not the surrounding tissue (which can cause serious side effects) during therapy.

With the new CT scanner, they now can move patients, particularly those with breast and lung cancer, into the positions needed to get the best images possible. The scanner then sends this information electronically to the radiation therapy machine, which mirrors the exact location and size of the tumor when delivering radiation beams.

In addition to its medical benefits, the new scanner's larger opening makes the scanning experience more comfortable for cancer patients.

Toshiba has installed its first Aquilion LB CT scanner at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The company expects the new scanner to be widely available for cancer patients at hospitals and medical imaging centers around the country within six months.

Role of CT Scanning In Cancer Treatment
Radiation oncologists use CT scanners to confirm the presence of a tumor and measure its size and exact location. They then incorporate CT information into the patient's radiation therapy plan to help them properly administer treatments. These plans typically last 5-7 weeks and include CT scans throughout the period of treatment.

"When imaging cancer patients, a primary concern is optimizing cancer treatment planning," said Dr. Edward J. Holupka, director of physics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. "Therefore, it's paramount we have the technology required to accurately obtain the information we need, regardless of patient positioning or size issues."

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