September 2,2019 Update
CT stands for Computed Tomography. This is an examination where the body is placed in a large tube in the center of the CT apparatus which uses X-rays and computer processing to examine and image the state inside the body. In addition to the images which are round slices of the body, they can create cross-sections and 3D images from various directions, such as from the front and side of the body.
Our CT examination room has one 128 slice CT scanner (SIEMENS: SOMATOM Definition Flash) and three 16 slice CT scanners (SIEMENS: SOMATOM Emotion16) for a total of 4 scanners which have been operating from April 2010, conducting about 100 CT scans every day.
A 128 slice CT scan can more quickly obtain at one time a very fine, less than 1 mm, high-definition image with dual energy imaging for identification or separation of image that is not obtained in normal CT scans. In addition, because the tube in the center is larger than previously used CT devices (diameter 78cm), the examination is easy to perform and the claustrophobic feeling is reduced.
Also, the examination of the coronary artery that usually nourishes the heart was performed via a heart catheter examination where a catheter (tube) is inserted from an artery in the limbs while hospitalized, but it is now possible to obtain images of coronary arteries without being hospitalized by injecting a contrast agent from a vein similar to the normal contrast CT test while in a CT device equipped with an electrocardiogram. Because the heart is always moving, you need to have a fast time resolution (similar to the shutter speed of the camera). Since the time resolution of our hospital's 128 slice CT can be 75msec, it has become possible to perform a cardiac CT examination corresponding to the movement of any heart, such as for patients with a high heart rate or arrhythmia.
128 slice CT SOMATOM Definition Flash
16 slice CT SOMATOM Emotion16
Examination Room | CT Equipment |
---|---|
X-12A | SIEMENS SOMATOM Emotion16 (16 slice CT) |
X-12B | |
X-13 | |
X-14 | SIEMENS SOMATOM Definition Flash (128 slice CT) |
The inspection time is usually 5 - 10 minutes for a simple CT scan, and it takes about 10 - 20 minutes for a contrast CT examination. This may differ for the same inspection site depending on the contents of the inspection. In fact, the time the X-rays will be applied will depend on the inspection site and the details, but it has been reduced due to the progress in the CT devices.
049‐228‐3518[Department of Radiology, CT Examination Room Direct]