Siemens Healthineers presents photon-counting CT scanner for radiation therapy support
At this year’s meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology in San Francisco, California, Siemens Healthineers showcased its photon-counting CT scanner for use in radiation therapy (RT) imaging. The Naeotom Alpha.Prime for RT is equipped with a novel cadmium telluride crystal detector that adds a wealth of clinically relevant information and improves image resolution and contrast.
Siemens introduced the first photon-counting CT scanner in 2021. As a next step, working with clinical partners around the world, Siemens has transferred all RT-specific features to photon-counting CT to leverage its capabilities for treatment planning. By transferring prescriptions and scanning requirements from oncology information system Aria Core directly to Naeotom Alpha.Prime, a digital workflow is established. This leads to an automatic selection of the corresponding RT scan protocol, further enhancing the RT simulation process.
Business line manager for radiation oncology GB&I Francesco Porcu said: “Photon-counting technology marks a significant leap in radiotherapy imaging. With Naeotom Alpha.Prime for RT, we bring this innovation into clinical practice, allowing for more detailed images and providing additional information for treatment planning.”
Chief oncologist Dr Hrvoje Kaučić at Radiochirurgia Zagreb, Croatia, who has been working with the new scanner in RT for the past six months, said: “Compared to previous images, those acquired with our new photon-counting CT scanner show considerably greater detail. For instance, we can now detect very small liver lesions, as small as 4mm, on post-contrast images. The enhanced visibility provided by Naeotom Alpha.Prime in RT enables us to use much narrower clinical margins – ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.”
Picture: the Naeotom Alpha.Prime from Siemens Healthineers.
Read this report on page 14 of the December 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.
