Resolution Revolution: Siemens Unveils World's First High Definition PET-CT, Providing Unprecedented Clarity Through Entire Field Of View

Main Category: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 28 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Just as the clarity of high definition television has transformed the entertainment world, Siemens Medical Solutions is redefining the quality of molecular imaging with the introduction of high definition positron emission tomography. Siemens has unveiled HD PET, the world's first and only high definition PET technology to offer consistently sharper and clearly defined images across the entire field of view beginning of June 2007 in the USA. "As the leading innovator in molecular imaging, Siemens raises the bar in innovation yet again by adding high definition to the Biograph TruePoint family of hybrid PET CT systems," said Michael Reitermann, president, Molecular Imaging, Siemens Medical Solutions. "The clarity of HD PET will provide greater specificity and accuracy and will enable physicians to more confidently delineate small lesions - including those in lymph nodes, abdomen, head and neck, and brain- to provide earlier, more targeted treatment."

The clarity achieved by HD PET is the result of a unique and proprietary technology that optimizes the elements of image uniformity, resolution and contrast - that together change the whole picture." The uniform resolution provided by HD PET throughout the field-of-view is a significant step in improving PET image quality," said David Townsend, PhD, director, Molecular Imaging and Translational Research Program, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, who has worked with Siemens while testing the new HD PET technology. "Historically with PET imaging, intrinsic image quality has been known to degrade with increasing distance from the center of the scanner. HD PET eliminates this effect thus providing increased diagnostic confidence to more accurately resolve peripheral lesions. This, in turn, could potentially improve staging of disease and hence clinical outcome."

By utilizing a proprietary reconstruction technique, HD PET can provide distortion-free images throughout the entire field of view. This improved 2 mm resolution enables physicians to clearly visualize the smallest of lesions from the center to the edges - a benefit unique to Siemens' HD PET. Adding high definition to PET systems also dramatically enhances contrast. The improvement in signal to noise, which effectively doubles, reveals sharper images that allow the clinician to better differentiate between healthy and suspicious tissue.

The advantages of high definition with PET imaging means improved clinical outcomes for cancer diagnosis, disease staging, treatment and post-surgery/post-radiation monitoring. In terms of detection, HD PET will improve the delineation of small abdominal lesions as well as small retroperitoneal lymph node metastases including testicular tumors, and cervical and uterine malignancies. HD PET provides improved visualization of small lesions that would otherwise be difficult to image. HD PET can also improve the accuracy of radiotherapy planning in that it provides superior detection of the true extent of the lesion.

The clarity of high definition will be invaluable in monitoring patients who have had surgery or therapy. The image clarity will enable physicians to identify small early recurrences of head and neck malignancies, especially in post-operative and post-radiation patients with distorted anatomy. HD PET can provide physicians with improved delineation of early axillary lymph node metastases in primary breast cancer and nodal and chest wall recurrences in post-treatment patients referred for restaging. It will also enable doctors to clearly delineate doubtful hilar and mediastinal nodal metastases in lung cancer, especially in post-radiation therapy, post-surgery conditions associated with fibrosis, effusion and pneumonitis.HD PET is based on Siemens' TruePoint technologies - a unique combination of technological features and workflow solutions, for PET CT imaging to help better diagnose, treat and care for patients. High definition capability will be an option on all Biograph TruePoint systems as well as an upgrade option for current Biograph TruePoint users.

Siemens Medical Solutions is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Recent acquisitions in the area of in-vitro diagnostics - such as Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics - mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing more than 41,000 people worldwide and operating in over 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1.06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (Sept. 30).

http://www.medical.siemens.com