Siemens Unveils MR Oncology Applications and Dedicated Breast Scanner at RSNA 2008

MAGNETOM Espree - Pink. Excellence in MR Breast Care 


CHICAGO, Nov. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Healthcare (http://www.siemens.com/healthcare) redefines Magnetic Resonance (MR) in Oncology with Tim(TM) (Total imaging matrix) technology at the 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) from November 30 to December 5 at McCormick Place (Booth #922, East Building/Lakeside Center, Hall D) in Chicago. Siemens offers comprehensive and state-of-the art solutions for Oncology.

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  MR's role in Oncology


MR plays a central role in Oncology for tumor characterization, staging, pre-surgical planning, therapy monitoring, and follow-up. syngo(R) TimCT Oncology joins Siemens' comprehensive Oncology Solutions and offers continuous table movement for extended Field of View (FoV) imaging and comprehensive staging for increased workflow. For example, a pelvic exam can be completed in as little as 20 minutes. syngo TimCT Oncology reduces the need for rescheduling multiple exams on other modalities by offering one complete exam on one system.

Men's Health

In 2007, nearly 219,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in the United States. With prostate cancer as the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, MR plays a vital role in determining which men are at serious risk. Siemens now offers a syngo solution to facilitate the detection of prostate cancer(*).

syngo Tissue 4D offers dynamic evaluation with quantification of tumor tissues in organs, such as the prostate and liver. This solution offers two evaluation workflows: standard and Pharmacokinetic modeling (PKM). PKM quantifies the contrast uptake and can be used for oncology workflow and follow-up studies. syngo Tissue 4D is easy to use  and offers a fast and guided navigation through all workflow steps, including Motion Correction, Registration, Curve evaluation, Pre evaluation (PKM prep), Evaluation (PKM), Result, and Reporting.

Women's Health

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In 2007, 1.3 million cases were diagnosed and 465,000 women died worldwide(*2). The National Cancer Institute estimates that a woman has a 1-in-8 chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society's new screening guidelines will impact up to 1.4 million high-risk women by recommending they receive annual MRI screenings. A high percentage of these women will benefit from breast MRI.

At the RSNA 2008, Siemens will introduce new dedicated breast coils for all customer needs. On 1.5 Tesla Tim systems and 3 Tesla Tim systems, the modular and versatile concept of the BI (Biopsy and Imaging) and AI (Advanced Imaging) coils makes it possible to customize them: one frame comes with different inserts for imaging and biopsy. The coil inserts are manufactured by Noras and Rapid, respectively. The AI breast coil will be available with 16 RF channels for high acceleration factors and advanced imaging.

The second new breast coil for imaging and biopsy on 1.5 Tesla Tim systems is the Sentinelle Vanguard for Siemens. The coil is designed with variable coil geometry (VCG) that allows the coil to accommodate a wide range of patient sizes, increases patient comfort, and increases signal-to-noise ratio, ultimately delivering excellent image quality with 8 RF channels.

In addition, Siemens will introduce the first quantitative MR breast spectroscopy in the industry. syngo GRACE @ 3T monitors choline, acting as a biomarker, and provides valuable information on the biochemical composition of breast lesions. By checking relative choline concentration during therapy, the monitoring of treatment efficiency is more reliable, which increases quality and reduces costs of disease management. Preliminary results show that detection of choline signal in breast tumors correlates with breast cancer, confirmed by biopsy, ultrasound and/or mammography.

MAGNETOM Espree - Pink. Excellence in MR Breast Care.

Highlighted at Siemens Innovations@RSNA launch area in the booth is the new 1.5T MAGNETOM Espree - Pink, the next-generation breast MRI system. MAGNETOM Espree - Pink combines the 70cm Open-Bore design of the MAGNETOM Espree with the Sentinelle Vanguard solution. This breast coil offers exceptional breast imaging and biopsy access. MAGNETOM Espree - Pink offers unmatched patient comfort, unique applications, and an innovative workflow pushing MRI Breast Care to the next level.

Pink Comfort:  The MAGNETOM Espree - Pink offers the same unprecedented level of patient comfort of the MAGNETOM Espree, the worlds first Open-Bore MRI. Boasting feet-first and head-first positioning and excellent access to perform biopsies, the system has unparalleled openness with a 70cm Open Bore and the shortest magnet on the market (125 cm) for increased comfort.

"Patients are always nervous during breast MRI examinations and biopsies. The biggest advantage in using MAGNETOM Espree and the Sentinelle system is the wide open access," said Jae K. Kim, MD, PhD, Radiology Limited, Tucson, Ariz.

Pink Applications:  This MR system offers a comprehensive portfolio of routine and advanced applications for breast care, including syngo VIEWS, the Breast Suite to address the needs of routine breast imaging. Additionally MAGNETOM Espree-Pink offers advanced applications like syngo GRACE spectroscopy for acquiring information on the biochemical status of a lesion or the Siemens unique syngo BLADE for motion-free imaging results.

Pink Workflow:  An integral part of MAGNETOM Espree - Pink is the design of the Sentinelle Vanguard coil for Siemens. This coil technology combined with the system's dedicated multi-modality workplace creates a powerful solution that offers exceptional speed and versatility and enhanced workflow.

"The Sentinelle Vanguard for Siemens provides renowned technology for both imaging and biopsy. This benefits the customer by offering excellent image quality, optimized biopsy access for increased accuracy, and fast examination times for higher patient throughput," said Walter Marzendorfer, head of Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthcare.

Another benefit of the MAGNETOM Espree - Pink is investment protection. The system is a 18-channel system and upgradeable to a fully equipped MAGNETOM Espree, powered by Tim, with whole-body diagnostic capabilities.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care - from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Additionally, Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader in innovative hearing instruments. The company employs around 49,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2008 (Sept. 30), Siemens Healthcare reported sales of euro 11.2 billion, orders of euro 11.8 billion, and Sector profit of euro 1.2 billion. Further information can be found by visiting http://www.siemens.com/healthcare.

(*) U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

(*2) Global Cancer Facts and Figures 2007 

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DATASOURCE: Siemens Healthcare



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