Research is under way to show how brain and spine patients at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust are benefiting from new ways of using a state-of-the art CT scanner.
Funding has been provided to explore ways of speeding up the scanning process, reduce radiation doses and make the diagnostic process easier for patients. It is based on a 640-slice Toshiba Aquilion One CT scanner, the only one of its type in the North West, which gives radiologists a highly detailed and accurate picture of the body. The manufacturers, Toshiba, are funding a research fellowship for two years, to identify how patients can benefit from the technology. Consultant neuroradiologist, Kumar Das, said: “This is a fantastic facility, which has enabled us to make real improvements in how we scan our patients. The research funding will allow us to measure the improved ways of working which are already under way; and will also enable us to carry out several research projects, all aimed at improving patient care.” The scanner provides a detailed picture of the brain and its blood flow. In just one rotation, which takes less than a second, it scans the whole head and by repeated rotations, radiologists can see how blood moves through blood vessels of the brain. Patients suffering from cancer; vascular conditions such as aneurysms; epilepsy; complex trauma injuries; degenerative spinal conditions; and dementia will all benefit. The improved techniques provided by the scanner mean that many patients can avoid the need for an invasive catheter angiography exam. Instead, a contrast dye is injected into the bloodstream, through a vein in the arm, in order to show up the brain’s arteries and veins during scanning. As the scanner is so quick and so powerful, patients are subjected to lower doses of radiation. “For patients, it makes the difference between coming in as a day case patient and coming in for a short outpatient appointment – and no invasive procedure,” said Dr Das. “Our work at The Walton Centre in partnership with Toshiba will provide evidence which will change the way scanning is performed throughout the UK and beyond.”
