At the third forum of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) in Barcelona, Siemens Healthcare will be presenting a new software solution for radiation therapy: syngo.via RT Image Suite has been specially developed to make it easier for radiation oncologists to evaluate a range of clinical images such as MRI, CT, PET-CT, and cone beam CT images, and to subsequently contour tumors and the surrounding organs to be spared. This means that the available image data, independent of the modality, can be used more effectively to define the optimal patient-specific radiation therapy strategy.
Today, existing software such as virtual simulation or treatment planning solutions are only partly able to accommodate the increasing number and diversity of images. Often, only two image series can be displayed at the same time - far too few if the clinician is looking to have a comprehensive view of the clinical situation using several different MRI contrasts, CT and PET images, and 3D and 4D views with the aim of deciding on the best-possible treatment approach.
This is different with the new syngo.via RT Image Suite. Based on syngo.via, Siemens' comprehensive image viewing and processing software solution, syngo.via RT Image Suite has been specifically developed to accommodate the increasing number and diversity of images used in radiation oncology: Up to eight fused image series can be displayed on up to four image panels at the same time. Dual Energy CT images, different PET tracers, and different MRI image contrasts - which are particularly helpful when diagnosing prostate cancer, for example - can be visualized at the same time, as can all image data for moving tumors, for example in the liver or lungs. Syngo.via RT Image Suite therefore offers radiation oncologists a detailed basis for deciding on the therapy approach, evaluating courses of treatment, and possibly adapting the treatment.
A well-founded assessment of clinical situation is just the first step on the path to more precise radiation therapy. The subsequent, exact contouring of the tumor plays just as important. Here, too, the syngo.via RT Image Suite helps by making it easier and quicker to contour the tumor tissue and neighboring organs, for example, via the automatic, parallel contouring of marked areas in several image series. Tumors can be quickly contoured, even in moving 4D CT datasets for the lungs. And if an adaption of therapy is required during the course of treatment, the software application supports fast re-contouring of the tumor boundaries.
Clinical images contoured using syngo.via RT Image Suite can then be transferred to treatment planning systems such as Eclipse from Varian Medical Systems - Siemens Healthcare's strategic partner in radiation therapy - for dosimetric planning. Particularly in curative approaches - which is increasingly the case in breast or prostate cancer patients, both constituting a large proportion of oncological diseases - precise radiation dose planning is extremely important to avoid side effects in neighboring organs, which are potentially at risk.
Syngo.via RT Image Suite is available with new imaging systems and also as an upgrade for installed Siemens Healthcare systems. In addition to clinical images from the various Siemens imaging modalities, diagnostic images from other manufacturers can also be viewed and processed.
Magnetom RT Pro edition supports MRI trend in radiation therapy planning
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - due to its excellent soft-tissue contrast - is gaining importance as the basis for radiation therapy decisions. Therefore, Siemens Healthcare will also be presenting an innovation in this field at the ESTRO Forum: The Magnetom RT Pro edition encompasses an MRI scanner with a particularly spacious open bore of 70 centimeters - either the 1.5-tesla Magnetom Aera or the 3-tesla Magnetom Skyra - and special equipment for radiation oncology. This includes the RT Dot Engine, among others, whose protocols are specially tailored to radiation therapy workflows.
In addition, Siemens Healthcare will present the new RT Pro edition for the Somatom Definition AS Open computer tomograph - now with new functionalities. These include a new, highly effective iterative algorithm for metal artifact reduction: iMAR can significantly reduce disruptive image artifacts caused by implants, artificial joints or pacemakers, which are found in more and more patients. Therapies can therefore be prepared and dose calculated based upon much more detailed information for a larger number of radiation therapy patients.
About Siemens AG
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 combined cycle 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 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 343,000 employees worldwide on a continuing basis.