Christie Scanning and Imaging Centre brochure

As part of our plans to redevelop and modernise the CT scanning department, we are going to purchase an advanced 4D CT scanner. We cannot have the new scanner without redevelopment of the department, as on a very practical level, the new 4D CT scanner simply will not fit in the current space. NEW EQUIPMENT

The 4D CT scanner is the next step in imaging. It scans much faster than a 3D scanner and is more accurate. It uses a new technology that captures the location and movement of a tumour, as well as the movement of the patient’s organs to show how this affects the position of a tumour. This is vital for accurately treating tumours located on or near organs that move, such as the heart and lungs. For example, a tumour on the lung will move with each breath as the lung inflates and deflates. With traditional imaging the radiology team will only know the position of the tumour at one point in the breath and so while aiming at the tumour they may miss it and damage healthy tissue. To compensate, lower less effective levels of radiation may be used thus reducing the effectiveness of the entire treatment.

Through 4D CT, we will be able to deliver radiation within a certain interval in the breathing cycle. This means the radiation stops when the tumour isn’t in the right position thus allowing the use of higher, more effective levels of radiation. This in turn minimises the impact on healthy tissue and reduces the risk of treatment-related side effects. Not only will it allow us to scan more patients than ever before, and in less time, but it will also mean we can carry out procedures such as ablation (minimally invasive surgery) which enables us to target cancerous cells more precisely.

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