Somatom Definition vs. GE Lightspeed
Bun Yok O. Dy, M.D., China, has sent the following question:
Somatom vs Lightspeed CT750HD: We are considering acquisition of a high speed CT with coronary and peripheral capabilities, which would be a better choice, the Siemen’s Somatom DSCT or GE Lightspeed CT 750HD?
Hatem Alkadhi, Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich:
Dear User
Thank you for your interest in our website and for posing this – relatively difficult – question.
In deed, I have no personal experience with the GE Lightspeed CT 750 HD.
As far as I understand, this scanner is a single-source 64-detector CT system. This means, that for cardiac imaging you need to administer beta-blockers for heart rate control. The highest temporal resolution currently available is achieved by the dual-source CT system (83ms). This means that you are able to image the heart not only at higher heart rates up to 100 bpm, but your confidence and accuracy is also higher as compared to a 64-slice CT system in patients with lower heart rates.
Considering the fact that the most important issue in cardiac CT imaging is temporal resolution, your choice for cardiac imaging obviously should be dual-source CT.
Regarding other, non-cardiac capabilites, there should be no big differences between the two scanners, since also the dual-source system is operated as a single-source scanner. On the other hand, the dual-source CT system offers the ability to simultaneosly acquire images at two different energy levels (dual-energy CT) which improves the characterization of various body tissue types.
Regardless of your choice, I hope you will be happy with it !
Hatem Alkadhi
Hello-
perhaps this is a premature question, but are the billing codes for Siemans Somatom different from those of traditional C/Ts? One would think the reimbursement for this new modality would warrant seperate CPT codes. I have searched both the 2101 CPT book and Siemans website to no avail and thought perhaps someone @ DSCT may have the answer?
Dear User,
in order to give an satisfying answer it is necessary to know which country you are working in. Billing codes differ in every country and thus health care system. Speaking for Germany billing codes unfortunatley do not represent technical advances very well.
With best regards
Marco Das
I wanted to add my question to the above question about Dual Energy CT Scans. I am also looking for any additional CPT codes that would be used for this type of exam. Our facility is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Thank You,
Kim Pavlic