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Duke University Health System one of first in US to acquire a new generation of CT scanner

Duke University Health System is one of the first in the world to get a new generation of CT Scanners. It represents the first major advance in CT imaging in nearly a decade.

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By
Ken Smith
, WRAL anchor/reporter
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University Health System is one of the first in the world to get a new generation of CT Scanners. It represents the first major advance in CT imaging in nearly a decade.

Last July, the new Photon-Counting CT Scanner was installed at Duke Hospital. In August, the system offered real hope for 56 year old Mary DeHayes of Sterling Heights, Michigan.

DeHayes suffered from severe headaches that kept her mostly bed-bound.

"I couldn’t even sit up," said DeHayes. "And I actually thought that I had a brain tumor."

Later, she learned it was not a tumor, but rather a spinal fluid leak. Standard CT imaging could not provide the detail needed to find and patch the leak, so Michigan doctors referred her to Duke.

"They saw it like as plain as day on that machine," said DeHayes, referring to Duke’s brand new imaging system created by the medical imaging company Siemens.

Duke radiologist Ehsan Samei said, "We actually can make a real difference in the care for individual patients."

"It’s the first time that we are able to keep track of the individual photons that go through the patient,” he added.

The new tool, one of only two in North America, counts the number of photons entering the body. It measures their energy and provides a more detailed image.

"We are able to deliver consistent image quality at a substantially lower radiation dose," said Dr. Daniele Marin with Duke radiology.

Duke neuro-radiologist Dr. Timothy Amrhein said, "The power of this new tool is that it can see really tiny things."

Tiny things like the source of DeHayes’ spinal fluid leak. The imaging marked the spot to stop the leak with a technique called a "blood patch".

It certainly was the result Mary DeHayes hoped for, and just in time for the holiday season.

"My grand-daughter was here for Thanksgiving and I was actually able to play some doll house with her," said DeHayes.

Samei says the PCD Scanner can also lead to better diagnosis and treatment of many life threatening conditions, including cancer and heart disease.

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