The Latest Diagnostic Imaging Technologies
The New 64-Slice CT Scanner
St. Joseph Hospital Diagnostic Imaging introduces the "Cadillac"
of CT Scanners - delivering head-to-toe 3D imaging in less than 60 seconds.
Our new CT Scanner will better assist physicians in early diagnosis and
treatment by offering a clearer anatomical visualization and improved
soft tissue evaluation. This means a more comprehensive diagnosis in less
time - and with greater patient comfort. We at St. Joseph Hospital are
pleased to be the first to offer this leading technology on the north coast.
Computerized Tomography (CT) combines the use of X-rays with computer technology.
Images, or slices, are sent to a computer to produce detailed three-dimensional
images. The 64-slice scanner software automatically personalizes scanning
parameters to the individual patient.
In 2003, the state-of-the art was a 16-slice scanner that required the
patient to hold his/her breath for 30 seconds. The new 64-slice allows
for a shorter breath hold (8-12 seconds) and provides high-resolution
images with the ability to see from the surface of the skin down to the
most minute vessels in the body.
The advantages of the 64-slice scanner are numerous, including:
- shorter exam times (particularly important for emergency & trauma patients)
- single, shorter breath-hold scanning (an advantage for child patients)
- reduced X-ray exposure
- more rapid results to facilitate the treatment process
- a safe and cost-effective alternative to invasive diagnostic procedures
The use of the 64-slice scanner in cardiovascular medicine to image the
heart is an emerging technology that physicians may begin to use for selected
patients in the place of more invasive diagnostic catheterization procedures.
The Power of PET
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a non-invasive nuclear medicine scanning
procedure which uses positron emitting radioactive isotopes to show three-dimensional
functional images, reflecting an organ’s metabolism rather than
just its anatomy, as in conventional scanning techniques. PET is used
to diagnose and monitor cancer, in addition to diseases of the heart,
brain, and lungs. PET allows for the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases
in their early stages, yielding better patient outcomes.
PET/CT - the all-in-one full body scan
The newest diagnostic system for detecting cancer at St. Joseph Hospital
is called a PET/CT Scan -- the only one of its kind in Humboldt County.
It is a combination of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which detects
cellular activity, and Computerized Tomography (CT), which reveals a cross-section
of body tissues and organs. In the past, difficulties arose from trying
to interpret the results of a CT scan done separately from a PET scan,
due to the fact that the patient's body position had changed. By combining
these technologies into a single device, the PET/CT Scanner makes it possible
to collect both anatomical and biological or metabolic information at
the same time -- during a single examination. This provides physicians
a much more complete and clearer picture of what is happening in the body.
This integrated information permits accurate tumor detection and localization
for a variety of cancers, including breast, esophageal, cervical, melanoma,
lymphoma, lung, colorectal, head and neck, and ovarian cancer.
The Benefits of a PET/CT Scan include:
- Improved tumor detection and localization
- Better monitoring of cancer recurrences
- Excellent image quality
- Shorter scan time and improved patient comfort
- Convenience of a single scan
With the help of a PET/CT scan, physicians can now detect cancers, as well
as some heart disease and brain disorders, at a much earlier stage.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exams enable physicians to see inside
the body without using X-rays. Instead, MRI creates images by using radio
waves, a computer and a powerful magnet approximately 7,000-times stronger
than the magnetic force of the earth. During an exam, the patient lies
inside the opening of the magnet. The hydrogen atoms in the patient's
body react to the magnetic field, and a computer reads signals from the
atom formation and reconstructs data into detailed images of the body's
interior.
Our Vantage MRI by Toshiba combines a compact magnet with noise-reduction
technology and ergonomic design to produce superior image quality with
greater patient comfort, allowing the patient's head to remain outside
the tube for most procedures. A
new MRI technique called Parallel Imaging, along with Toshiba's patented
speeder coil technology, allows the Vantage to capture images in a fraction
of the time required by older machines. The faster scans mean less chance
of blurring from patient movement, less repositioning during the procedure
and less time in the exam room. The Vantage also packs a full 1.5-Tesla
field strength -- roughly double the magnetic strength of most 'open'
MRI machines -- providing the top quality images needed for the most accurate
diagnosis possible.
Because of its ability to image soft tissue, MRI plays a critical role
in diagnosing cancer. It can reveal the shape, size and location of tumors,
and it is used to monitor tumor growth, including malignant and non-malignant
tumors in the brain. MRI is even used to augment mammography tests for
breast cancer.