Spectral CT

Spectral CT is a more advanced form of CT imaging that combines conventional CT imaging with spectral technology to provide additional information about the tissues and materials within the body, without additional scans or radiation.

Like a standard CT scan, it produces detailed cross-sectional images. However, spectral technology can provide more information that may help radiologists better characterise certain tissues, identify materials (e.g. iodine concentration, silicone, uric acid) and improve diagnostic confidence across many clinical situations.

Importantly, the spectral data acquired at the time of the scan can be reprocessed to generate additional image reconstructions when clinically indicated. Where the original data has been retained, this may allow new clinical questions to be explored without requiring the patient to undergo another CT examination.

Everyone. At MBR Health, Spectral CT can be used across the same broad range of clinical indications as conventional CT, while providing additional spectral information from the same examination.

CT scans are commonly used for the following:

• Cancer staging and treatment response assessment
• Vascular assessment (angiography)
• Heart Conditions (CT coronary artery angiogram)
• Lung assessment
• Breast and implant integrity assessement
• Chest, abdomen and pelvis imaging
• Trauma and acute presentations
• Urinary tract assessment, including kidney stones
• Investigation of unexplained symptoms and suspected disease (e.g. occult malignancy).

Our Philips IQon Spectral CT captures conventional and spectral data simultaneously on every scan, without additional radiation. This next generation technology allows for advanced reconstructions such as quantitative tissue characterisation, iodine mapping, virtual non-contrast imaging and material decomposition to be generated when clinically relevant.

Spectral CT can be particularly valuable when conventional CT imaging is inconclusive, when further tissue or lesion characterisation is required, or when optimising radiation and contrast exposure is clinically important.

To learn more about the benefits of Spectral CT at MBR Health, read our insight article “Why Choose Spectral CT over regular CT”.

At MBR Health, our CT scans with Spectral technology offers additional diagnostic capabilities across a wide range of clinical applications, including:

• Cancer assessment — providing additional spectral information that may help detect and characterise lesions not clearly demonstrated on conventional CT
• Breast implant assessment — identifying silicone and assisting in the evaluation of implant integrity
• Breast imaging — supporting opportunistic breast assessment alongside 3D non-compression breast imaging
• Lung and cardiovascular imaging — including pulmonary embolism assessment and iodine-based perfusion mapping
• Gout assessment — identifying uric acid crystal deposits within joints and soft tissues
• Opportunistic health assessment — including evaluation of liver fat and calcified plaque in the aorta.
• Lower-radiation protocols — our exclusive imaging protocols can capture multiple diagnostic phases within a single scan, helping to minimise radiation and contrast exposure, where clinically appropriate.

To learn more about our Spectral CT innovation at MBR Health, visit our Research page.

By combining conventional CT with next-generation Spectral technology, our Spectral CT scans can provide greater diagnostic clarity and help reduce the need for repeat imaging or additional studies in appropriate cases. This can help streamline the diagnostic pathway and a support faster time to treatment.

Under the expertise of Specialist Radiologist Dr Zane Sherif, our exclusive protocols enable multi-phase diagnostic information from a single acquisition, reducing the number of acquisitions required and lowering overall radiation dose compared with conventional multi-phase CT imaging.

Most CT scans at MBR Health using our advanced Spectral CT technology are bulk billed for Medicare-eligible patients. This means eligible patients can access our next-generation CT imaging, with the additional diagnostic information provided by Spectral CT, with no out-of-pocket cost.

Some specialised examinations or clinical indications may attract an out-of-pocket cost, including CT coronary angiography (CTCA), CT assessment for Gout and our exclusive non-compression breast assessment. Please contact our team to confirm Medicare eligibility and any potential costs for your specific CT examination.