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CT Scans of the Sinuses
-Instantaneous imaging
-Lower X-ray radiation
Conventional CT Scanners give the same radiation dose as 100 -chest x-rays
The MiniCAT™ has a lower radiation dose equivalent to 6 chest x-rays.
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Commonwealth's Sinus Center is one of the few centers in Kentucky that can provide patients with the lowest dose imaging available. We installed our Xoran MiniCat® in 2007 and were one of the first two sites nationally to become an IAC accredited CT Imaging Facility.
The advent of newer CT scanning techniques as well as the widespread availability of this diagnostic modality has made it a key component in the evaluation of patients with paranasal sinus disease. The ability to interpret these diagnostic tests and thus influence patient treatment and outcomes puts us a step ahead of other ENT practices.
Sending patients elsewhere for CT scans did not help us meet our patient care goals. When patients come to see our doctors, chances are they are already suffering with uncomfortable symptoms. The last thing that they want to hear is that they will have to live with their symptoms for several weeks until they can get an appointment for a CT scan at a hospital, and make a follow-up appointment with our doctors before they can get their diagnosis and begin treatment. Because our main office has a CT scanner in the facility, we scan our patients right in our office in 40 seconds! This gives us the ability to diagnose faster and begin treatment right away. This is important to our patients, who get relief from their symptoms faster.
Fast diagnosis is key, but accurate diagnosis is also key. Since the sinus system is dynamic, a patient's condition may change between the time they first visit our office to the time of the hospital CT scan, and may change again before we get the scans back from the hospital to begin treatment or schedule surgery. This is important because inconsistent diagnoses can lead to improper or delayed treatment. Having the ability to scan our patients on site gives us the ability to control the timing and quality of our CT scans.
A CT scan taken in our office is more familiar and comfortable for our patients. Patients come to our office where they are surrounded by doctors, nurses, and staff that they know and trust. We can explain the process to them, acquaint them with the machine, and reassure them about their safety and comfort. This goes a long way toward making our patients happy.
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