Siemens has industry’s most comprehensive approach to lung cancer
screening, using standard low-dose lung protocols
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Siemens Healthcare’s
SOMATOM computed tomography (CT) systems for low-dose lung cancer
screening. Siemens now offers the industry’s most comprehensive approach
to low-dose lung cancer screening -- both on all of Siemens’ new CT
scanners sold as well as on the company’s installed base of
non-end-of-support systems – using standard low-dose lung protocols that
are already delivered on Siemens CT scanners. From the SOMATOM Scope
16-slice CT system to the ultra-premium SOMATOM Force, Siemens now makes
low-dose lung cancer screening broadly available to its customers.
“Lung cancer screening represents one of the most significant
opportunities to improve population health through earlier detection and
improved follow-up opportunities for high-risk patients,” said David
Pacitti, President of Siemens Healthcare North America. “That’s why
Siemens pursued the most expansive indication for lung cancer screening,
bringing this valuable tool to all varieties of our current SOMATOM CT
scanners.”
Obtaining this indication for low-dose CT lung cancer screening is a
milestone not just for Siemens Healthcare, but for CT as an imaging
modality. With this indication, an imaging modality that has long been a
benchmark diagnostic tool for symptomatic patients is becoming a viable
screening tool for a subset of high-risk asymptomatic patients. For the
right patient population, this technology can have a significant impact
on mortality for a disease that is often diagnosed too late.
The indication for low-dose lung cancer screening is available for the
following CT systems: SOMATOM Force, SOMATOM Definition Flash, SOMATOM
Definition Edge, SOMATOM Definition AS/AS+, SOMATOM Perspective, SOMATOM
Scope, and the SOMATOM Emotion 16.
Siemens’ portfolio of CT systems offers solutions for low-dose lung
imaging from screening to detection to diagnosis. With its FAST (Fully
Assisting Scanner Technologies) features, Siemens optimizes CT
acquisition by reducing user variability. For instance, with FAST
Planning, technologists can set an optimum range for scan settings that
avoids cut-offs or excessive radiation. These automated settings
optimize workflow and increase reproducibility – a key factor with
regular screenings of lung cancer patients. And with its CARE (Combined
Applications to Reduce Exposure) feature, Siemens delivers a consistent,
reproducible approach to optimizing radiation dose in scan parameters
that supports efficient clinical workflow. Features in the SOMATOM
portfolio also aid the radiologist in reporting dose and sharing
findings within the interdisciplinary lung cancer team.
Recognizing that one of the challenges to widespread adoption of
screening services is access to care, Siemens has launched a unique
mobile imaging solution for lung cancer screening – especially for
people living in rural areas. The Mobile SOMATOM Scope CT is a
self-powered mobile CT with on-board diesel generator that is ready to
scan within minutes of parking. No Commercial Driver’s License is
required to drive the vehicle, reducing complexity in logistics.
Equipped with a high-speed wireless connection, the Mobile SOMATOM Scope
CT is ready for fast and easy image transfer.
Siemens CT scanners also include a robust portfolio of imaging
technologies that may help enable improvements when performing complex
procedures such as lung biopsies. With Adaptive 3D Intervention Suite,
biopsy targets can be better visualized, which may aid physicians in
minimally invasive procedures. Physicians can work more effectively by
gaining access to nearly real-time guidance, while having a view of the
whole organ and benefitting from automatic needle-detection algorithms
and path planning tools.
With the industry’s most comprehensive approach to lung cancer
screening, a host of solutions to improve access to care,
reproducibility and exam consistency, and solutions that enable
minimally invasive lung biopsies, Siemens’ CT portfolio is uniquely
positioned to complement these population health initiatives.
To learn more about Siemens solutions for lung cancer screening, visit www.usa.siemens.com/lungcancerscreening.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse
that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality,
reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is
active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of
electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s
largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies,
Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading
supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major
provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure
solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for
industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging
equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT.
In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated
revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of
September 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide.
Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
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