Saint Luke’s East–Lee’s Summit unveils new CT scanner with low-dose radiation technology

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. (April 20, 2011) — Patients needing CT scans at Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit now have access to a new scanner with specialized radiation-reducing technology that produces a more accurate image.

CT scanners work by acquiring a large number of X-ray images, or “slices,” of the patient and using those separate images to create a whole, three-dimensional picture. The scans are used to pinpoint tumor locations, determine the degree of traumatic injury, locate internal bleeding and much more.

The hospital’s new GE VCT 64-slice CT scanner with ASIR (Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction) technology allows for 40 – 50 percent less radiation while reducing the “noise” (anything that interferes with image quality) associated with more traditional CT scanners. The result is a higher-quality image with lower radiation exposure for the patient.

“In addition to reducing our patients’ radiation exposure, the new CT scanner will also make it possible for us to begin offering same-day scans to many of our patient populations,” said Shannon Philipsheck, Radiology manager at Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit. The new machine is located in the hospital’s Diagnostic Center.

“This is just one example of how Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit incorporates leading-edge technology with high-quality care and patient convenience,” said Gloria Solis, chief nursing officer/chief operating officer at Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit.