Technology Information for Doctors

HSC has carefully selected the best technology available. With our cutting-edge equipment from Siemens, Germany and GE, USA, etc, HSC is one of the most well-equipped medical centers in the region.

The combination of advanced medical technologies and internationally trained medical professionals allow our physician, cardiologist and radiologist to access any pathology present from the patient studies that present clinically significant results.

Accuracy

The Siemens MSCT gathers 18 times more data than EBCT (1,2000,000 bits of data per slice/rotation as opposed to 685,000). In addition, MSCT has better post processing capabilities than the EBCT allowing for more isotropic and contiguous data. This improved post processing ability leads to superior resolution of 3-dimensional images and seriously decreases both miss registered and missed or multi-gathered data. According to research done (Published in Sept 2002 Circulation), MSCT has a positive value (PPV) of 80% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97%.

Consistency

The image noise on the EBCT is roughly 100 times louder than MSCT. Radiologist reading images from both EBCT and MSCT consistently note that the resolution from the MSCT is three times better than EBCT. The spatial resolution is 30 lines pair per cm (lp/cm) for MSCT to 11 lp/cm for EBCT.

Radiation

When comparing radiation dosages from MSCT and EBCT using similar protocols, the radiation dosages were equivalent at 7 mSv per study. Essentially any CT scanner gives as much or as little radiation as the operator programs. The relevant issue is how much radiation is required for a diagnostic quality image. The Siemens MSCT is a more efficient scanner and therefore can acquire a comparable image with as little as 1/3rd the x-ray dosage required by EBCT.

Speed

The MSCT is faster than EBCT because the EBCT lacks the MSCT's advanced rotating x-ray in the grantry. This speed comes from the continuously moving table in the MSCT. By comparison, the EBCT does a step and shoot protocol, which means that the machine will image, move the table position, stop and shoot another image. The MSCT does not stop during the process to recalibrate position and thus does not miss anatomy due to the continuous movement resulting in the MSCT's superior accuracy and reproducibility.

Summary

The Siemens MSCT is superior to EBCT in accuracy, reproducibility, consistency, radiation, and speed. Leading academic medical institutions such as Stanford Hospital, John Hopkins, and Mayo Clinic have converted over to Siemens 16-slice MSCT.