Sacramento, Calif.-based UC Davis Health has installed the region’s first photon-counting CT scanner, a next-generation imaging system that produces sharper images at lower radiation doses.
The Siemens-manufactured scanner, deployed at the health system’s 48X Complex in Sacramento, captures ultra-high-resolution images down to 0.2-millimeter slices and delivers detailed spectral data for diagnosis, according to a Jan. 13 UC Davis Health news release. Unlike traditional CT, which blends X-ray energy, photon-counting CT measures the energy of individual photons to generate contrast-rich images with improved spatial resolution.
“This is breakthrough technology that could transform medical imaging,” said Ahmadreza Ghasemiesfe, MD, chief of cardiothoracic imaging at UC Davis Health. “It means sharper images and more information for diagnosis.”
Leaders compared the shift to upgrading from black-and-white TV to full color. The scanner has already been adopted for heart imaging and is being explored for cancer detection, where spectral maps may eliminate the need for follow-up scans.
The system uses cadmium telluride crystals developed by Siemens Healthineers to directly convert X-rays into electrical signals, improving both accuracy and efficiency. UC Davis said the reduced radiation exposure is particularly beneficial for pediatric patients and those requiring multiple scans.
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