Low-Dose CT Available at FirstHealth Moore Regional-Hoke Campus
| Date Posted: 10/29/2013
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Glen A. Toomayan, M.D. |
RAEFORD – The availability of low-dose CT (computed tomography) technology at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Hoke Campus assures high-quality images but with a lower radiation dose to patients.
According to Glen A. Toomayan, M.D., a board certified radiologist with FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Pinehurst Radiology Associates, CT scans are very helpful in the diagnosis and management of many medical problems. For many years, however, concerns have been raised about the increased risk of cancer in patients who have repeated scans.
“While this risk is low, health care professionals are focusing on making this risk as low as possible,” Dr. Toomayan says. “In recent years, new techniques have been developed to lower radiation dose from CT scans while still providing high-quality diagnostic examinations.”
An imaging method that uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of cross-sections of the body, CT is most commonly used to diagnose diseases of or injury to the brain, chest, spine and abdomen. It is also used to image complex fractures, especially those around joints.
The same technology of the GE Healthcare ASiR scanner at Hoke Campus has been used successfully at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst for the past two years. “We have routinely employed this technique with excellent image quality and reductions in patient radiation dose,” says Dr. Toomayan.
Although patients do not notice any difference between a typical CT scan and a CT scan using ASiR technology, radiologists who interpret the scans say they are of equal or higher quality than those that do not use dose-reduction technology.
“Using this technology allows us to reduce the radiation dose to the patient while preserving or even improving CT image quality,” says Dr. Toomayan.
A graduate of Duke University, Dr. Toomayan received his medical degree from the Duke University School of Medicine. He completed his internship, residency and a fellowship in musculoskeletal radiology at Duke University Medical Center.
He has been a diagnostic radiologist with Pinehurst Radiology Associates since 2010 and chief of the Radiology Section at Moore Regional Hospital since 2012.
For more information, call (866) 415-2778 toll-free or visit www.firsthealth.org/ct.
