ROXBOROUGH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL INSTALLS

ADVANCED CT SYSTEM

(Philadelphia, PA) Roxborough Memorial Hospital has installed a new and advanced computed tomography (CT) scanner, the Toshiba’s Aquilion^™ 16, produced by Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.  Clinicians perform CT scans to help diagnose kidney, lung, liver, spine and blood diseases, cancer, tumors and cysts, as well as blood clots, hemorrhages and infections.

            The $1/2 million system includes enhanced features designed to provide greater patient comfort and safety, faster exam times, and improved image quality for speedier diagnosis.  “We have acquired one of the most advanced medical imaging systems available today to accommodate a wide array of our hospital’s CT scanning needs,” said Louisa Brash, Roxborough Memorial’s CT supervisor.

            While CT uses X-ray technology, it is distinguished from other imaging tools like traditional X-ray and MRI by its ability to display a combination of soft tissue (like muscles, tissue, organs and fat), bones and blood vessels all in a single image and with greater clarity than traditional X-rays. “CT is much less invasive than fluoroscopy and interventional radiology,” said Ms. Brash.  “It provides much quicker input, and as a result our patients are sometimes on the table for less than a minute.” 

During a CT test, a patient lies on a table that is slowly moved into the large donut-shaped opening of the scanner.  Once in place, a series of X-ray beams creates hundreds of cross-sectional pictures that represent slices of the patient’s body.  Seconds later, the system’s computer assembles the slices into three-dimensional images that are  interpreted by a clinician.

             The Aquilion^™ 16 has the ability to acquire 16 anatomical slices at once, offering physicians more detailed images to review. Image quality is further enhanced with a fast scanning capability – 400 milliseconds to rotate around a patient’s body – that effectively reduces image distortion when moving organs, such as the heart and lungs, are being scanned.

About Roxborough Memorial Hospital and the Department of Radiology

            Roxborough Memorial Hospital, a part of Solis Healthcare, is a 137-bed community hospital serving the communities of Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls and other surrounding areas. CT services are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.  To make an appointment for a CT Scan or any other radiology procedure, call 215-487-4502 or 487-4273. Physician referrals are required.