FDA Clears Spectral 4DCT for Precision in Radiation Oncology

• The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to Philips Spectral computed tomography (CT) 7500 RT.
• Spectral CT 7500 is a detector-based spectral CT radiotherapy solution.
• With this, radiation oncologists can target radiation therapy to the specific physiological characteristics of a patient's tumor precisely.

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to Philips Spectral CT 7500 RT, the first spectral 4DCT respiratory-gated imaging for use in radiation oncology.¹

Spectral CT 7500 RT is an advancement in radiation therapy planning, designed specifically to support radiation oncologists in delivering precise, patient-centered care. Spectral CT 7500 RT works by promoting accuracy in planning for the treatment of cancer and minimizes damage to healthy surrounding tissue. This new Spectral CT 7500 RT also aims to reduce potential adverse effects among patients with cancer.²

This technology integrates true conventional and spectral CT capabilities within a single scan, making it compatible with existing clinical workflows. Further, it is the first radiation therapy CT scanner to offer respiratory-gated spectral imaging, enabling oncologists to utilize the benefits of 4D conventional CT while also leveraging the enhanced visualization and quantification that spectral CT provides.¹

"The Spectral CT system provides us with several capabilities that conventional CT does not have. It can provide electron density and effective atomic number results, which we can convert to the proton stopping-power ratio. And published data shows that the stopping power ratio obtained in this way has fewer uncertainties compared to regular calibration curves, thereby reducing the uncertainty margins during treatment planning," said Zhong Su, PhD, Physics Director, Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center, in a press release.

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The Spectral CT 7500 RT offers several advantages in radiation oncology, including improved accuracy, cost effectiveness, and workflow efficiency as it is able to seamlessly integrate with existing protocols for radiation oncologists.

According to Philips, Spectral CT 7500 RT has significantly reduced proton stopping-power ratio (SPR) error by more than 50% vs conventional CT. This reduction translates to improved accuracy in radiation dose calculation, minimizing exposure to healthy tissues while enhancing the precision of cancer treatments.

By acquiring both true conventional CT and spectral CT data in a single scan, the Spectral CT 7500 RT streamlines the imaging process and can automatically generate SPR maps and direct electron density (ED) results, achieving deviations of less than 1%. This can help oncologists optimize radiotherapy planning and ensure accurate dose delivery for patients with cancer.

“Tumor delineation, beam attenuation, and respiratory motion are critical factors in radiotherapy planning. The spectral information provided by Spectral CT 7500 RT enhances tissue characterization, enabling wider access to highly personalized and precisely targeted treatment for more patients without adding extra steps to current radiotherapy workflows,” said Dan Xu, global business leader of CT at Philips, in a press release.

REFERENCES

1. Philips Spectral CT 7500 RT, world’s first spectral 4DCT respiratory-gated imaging receives FDA 510(k) clearance. News release. Royal Philips. November 12, 2024. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/2pk39s95

2. Spectral CT 7500 RT. Philips. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://tinyurl.com/4xtepnct