Digital radiography and ultrasound are powerful tools that have aided in the life-saving diagnoses and treatments of countless animals. But these imaging modalities are fundamentally limited because they are 2-dimensional projections of 3-dimensional anatomy. In this article we will provide reviews from CT users on the usefulness of this modality with respect to:
• Cancer Staging
• Multi-site pathologies
• Neurological intervention
• Pet-owner compliance
Referrals in the veterinary world are a fact of life. Whether you are the referring veterinarian or the at the specialty hospital, you send/receive patients based on a variety of factors, including:
• Geographical proximity and technology availability
• Expertise with surgeries and pathologies
• Personal relationships
Most veterinary practices have enough operating cost to deal with, so investing in modalities that don’t generate any income is simply not an option. If you’re thinking about purchasing a computed tomography (CT) system, you’ve probably wondered how much income you would need from CT scans to break even. That’s a common concern, but when calculating your income from CT, it is important to include not only CT scan fees but also surgeries that you would not have performed had you not purchased a CT system.
• Seeing What You Need
• Pet-Owner Compliance
• Revenue from Procedures
• Clinic Enhancement
It goes without saying that purchasing a CT scanner for your clinic is a major capital investment, but remember, it is an investment towards the level of care your practice offers its patients. Let’s take a close look at all the factors that contribute to the total cost of ownership, then you can start to calculate your potential income from CT. Some expenses are incurred before installation, other’s after installation. Here we’ll breakdown the costs associated with your investment according to the following factors:
Equipment (type of technology, fixed vs portable, new vs refurbished, and detector count)
• Space considerations
• Electrical costs
• Anesthesia
• Radiologist over-read
• Extended Service Contracts
A computed tomography (CT) scanner is a major capital investment and probably the most significant in the history of your practice. That investment could increase your referrals (and your income) exponentially, but there are several logistical factors to consider before you make the purchase.
• Floorspace
• Radiation Shielding
• Electrical Requirements
From image quality to spatial resolution, there are several factors that influence the price and performance of a computed tomography (CT) scanner. If you are in the market for a CT, one of the easiest ways to save money is to separate the specifications that you need from those that you can go without. So, where does slice count fit in this mix and what are its implications?
• Slice Thickness and Spatial Resolution
• Slice Count and “Coverage”
• Speed of Acquisition
• Human vs Veterinary Importance
Slice count is often the first specification mentioned in a discussion about CT, but many veterinarians do not understand its role in CT scanning. Slice count refers to the number of rows of detectors in the z-axis of a CT. You might see a particular CT referred to as an “8-slice CT scanner,” “16-slice CT scanner,” etc. In an 8-slice CT, there are eight slices of data captured for every rotation of the gantry.
There are three primary reasons veterinarians make the decision to invest in a computed tomography (CT) scanner: to uncover previously un-diagnosed pathologies, to unlock the benefit of interventional treatments, and to improve clinical outcomes. This is an investment into the standard of care and economic success of your clinic.
You may already know that there are two types scanners on the market that produce volumetric image data: slice CT (also called “traditional CT”) and Cone Beam scanners. Each of these technologies has its pros and cons, but the two principal differentiators with respect to image quality and logistics are:
• Motion Artifacts
• Contrast Resolution
Like any other business purchase, your goal when choosing a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner for your practice should be to find a system that has the features you need while paying as little as possible. It is important to remember, though, that there is more than just the upfront price of the equipment that goes into the overall cost of ownership. In fact, extended warranty and service make up about 35% to 50% of the total cost of a CT over a 10-year period—and if you’re buying a CT, you want it to last about that long. A CT scanner is a sizable investment for even the busiest veterinary clinics, and so to reduce the upfront cost, the veterinary industry has evolved to offer scanners that fall into two main categories:
• New
• Used
• Manufacturer Refurbished
• 3rd Part Reconditioned
Radiation exposure is a common concern among veterinarians whose practices rely heavily on computed tomography (CT) diagnostic imaging. An important distinction, however, is the characteristics of the patient. Much research (and marketing) is done in the human medical world, and rightfully so. But when this is copy-and-pasted into veterinary marketing, some simple concepts are overlooked. Before we discuss how much radiation exposure is too much, it is first important to know that the risk of biological damage is dependent on a patient’s total exposure to radiation over time, and not from a single scan.
• Radiation Exposure per scan type
• Effects of Radiation vs Other Factors on Life Span
• Technique Advice
