Initially, we had the option of using DLR either for further dose reduction or, alternatively, to increase image quality. Regarding dose reduction, we’ve always been very far ahead with Canon CT equipment. In the previous protocols, we’ve been well below the diagnostic reference values of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection. We made a conscious decision to use the new technology to achieve higher image quality.

Choosing this new workflow has proven extremely successful, and we now benefit from significantly increased image quality on a daily basis.

The decision to add the new software to the Aquilion ONE / PRISM Edition was also very much appreciated by the staff, who now prefer to have AiCE available on all CT equipment.

Switching from previous equipment to the Aquilion ONE / PRISM Edition CT with AiCE technology pleased everyone. They didn’t have to refamiliarize themselves with the new system or relearn how to interpret the images.

The noise in particular has once again significantly decreased, which facilitates better diagnosis.

Many of the Charité specialists share our enthusiasm. Cardiologists have reported that our department now delivers the best imaging results with high-tech CT compared to other radiological modalities, especially in cases where small structures are involved, e.g. revascularization of chronic coronary obstructions.

Our imaging is now considered the standard for planning recanalizations of chronic total coronary occlusions (CTO). We receive nothing but praise and great satisfaction from the cardiology department. In cardio diagnostics, volume CT is now absolutely prioritized.

The necessary dose – less than 1 mSv for the Cardiac CTA - is consistently very low. Thanks to the short scan time and high temporal resolution, we can now directly examine the heart in volume CT, something we would have been hesitant about in the past - for example, in the case of a patient with arrhythmia and/or extremely high Agatson calcium scores (Case 2).

Reconstruction speed has also increased with the Aquilion ONE / PRISM Edition, but I hardly noticed the difference with previous Canon equipment, which already offered the possibility to completely reconstruct the images as soon as the patient left the room.

We never had a problem with reconstruction speed. It’s never been a bottleneck in our workflow.

DLR technology provides extremely clear and distinct images, although previous imaging with AIDR 3D on Canon CTs had quickly established itself and was long considered the highest technical level by the team. AiCE shows it can be even better. Inevitably, we would like to offer this high image quality to all our patients, and not only those who are examined with the latest system. //