Contest: CT Images with the Lowest Possible Dose
In an effort to support radiologists expand their know-how regarding dose reduction, Siemens sponsored the “International CT Image Contest” in October 2009. The task was to achieve the best possible image quality with the lowest possible dose.
In an effort to reduce patient radiation exposure during CT scans, Siemens sponsored an image contest for radiologists. The objective of the contest was to achieve the best possible image quality with the lowest possible dose using a Siemens CT scanner from the Somatom Definition family. Around 300 spectacular clinical images were submitted from more than 30 countries and evaluated by a jury of internationally renowned professors. The winning images were exhibited at the ECR (European Congress of Radiology) 2010 in Vienna. The winners are from Belgium, China, Japan, Canada, Portugal, and Sweden.
Excellent image quality is an essential requirement in computed tomography (CT). At the same time, the patient’s radiation exposure should be kept as low as possible. The participants were able to submit their images in six categories—Cardiac, Vascular, Neuro, Thorax, Abdomen, and Pelvis and Dual Energy. The winning image in the Thorax category shows the scan of a 47 year old woman who was examined in response to pain in the chest cavity to rule out a heart ailment, a pulmonary embolism, and a lung tumor. The low dose of less than 1 mSv (millisievert) was required for the scan. The results of the CT showed no appreciable disease, however.
Radiation protection and dose reduction in computed tomography have also received considerable attention recently in the scientific literature. Siemens Healthcare wanted to use the International CT Image Contest to motivate radiologists to utilize the dose reduction hardware and software of their CT scanners to the full extent and share their experiences with other users of Siemens CT scanners. A “fan community” with more than 1,400 members had the opportunity to discuss the submitted images on Facebook. In addition, every Internet user could select their “favorite image” in a public voting on a website created specifically for the contest.
