MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A new era in medical imaging is taking shape as Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) inaugurates its NAEOTOM photon-counting CT, one of the latest innovations in computed tomography designed to deliver highly detailed images while using significantly lower radiation doses, making MMC the only hospital in the Philippines to offer the interventional option.

Photon-counting CT technology represents a major advancement from conventional CT scanners. Unlike traditional systems that use energy-integrating detectors, photon-counting CT directly detects individual X-ray photons and their energy levels—allowing for high-resolution images, spectral information, and reduced image noise.

According to Dr. Genevere Serna-Santos, Chairperson of the Department of Radiology at Makati Medical Center, one of the technology's major advantages is its potential to significantly reduce radiation exposure.

“The photon counting CT is the innovation in computed tomography,” Dr. Santos explained, citing three major advantages: lower radiation dose, improved image quality, and faster scan time.

For patients, this can mean obtaining detailed CT images with substantially less radiation than conventional CT imaging.

Dr. Santos also highlighted the new scanner's speed, saying a chest scan can be completed in seconds.

This faster scanning capability can be particularly beneficial for pediatric patients, who may have difficulty remaining still during conventional CT examinations and may sometimes require sedation.

Dr. Jackson Dy, Chief of the Section of CT-MRI, Department of Radiology at Makati Medical Center, said the technology also gives radiologists a clearer view of anatomical structures and possible abnormalities.

With sharper images and better delineation of structures, radiologists can identify pathology more clearly, potentially helping referring physicians arrive at more informed management decisions.

MORE THAN JUST LOWER RADIATION

One key distinction of MakatiMed's new facility is that its photon-counting CT includes an interventional option found in only one other hospital in Southeast Asia, allowing the technology to support image-guided procedures in addition to diagnostic imaging.

This makes the MakatiMed installation distinct from photon-counting CT systems that are focused primarily on diagnostic imaging.

Makati Medical Center already provides interventional radiology services, where imaging technologies such as CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, and ultrasound guide minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

The hospital's new photon-counting CT therefore expands the technology's potential applications—from detecting and characterizing disease to supporting image-guided interventions.

BENEFITS FOR CANCER, HEART AND LUNG IMAGING

The physicians also pointed to potential applications in oncology, pulmonology, and cardiovascular imaging.

According to Dr. Santos, the technology can provide finer detail of structures such as bones and generate spectral imaging information that can be particularly useful in evaluating cancer patients.

Dr. Dy likewise cited the ability to visualize structures such as the coronary arteries, including vessels affected by dense calcifications associated with atherosclerotic disease.

Photon-counting CT can also image the body from head to toe, allowing physicians to examine multiple areas with a single advanced CT platform.

A SIGNIFICANT STEP FOR PEDIATRIC IMAGING

For children, speed and radiation reduction can be especially important.

The physicians explained that conventional CT examinations may require a pediatric patient to remain completely still, sometimes requiring sedation and coordination with an anesthesiologist.

With the faster acquisition of photon-counting CT, examinations can potentially be completed before significant movement occurs.

Dr. Santos described the technology's speed in practical terms: a pediatric chest CT can be completed in only a few seconds.

This may reduce the need for sedation in appropriate cases while also providing high-quality diagnostic images.

MakatiMed's new installation adds another significant capability through its interventional option, broadening how photon-counting CT can potentially be utilized in patient care.

Internationally, photon-counting CT is being adopted for applications involving the heart, lungs, bones, cancer imaging, and whole-body examinations. Research and clinical reviews have identified higher spatial resolution and radiation-dose advantages as among the key areas of interest for the technology.

For Makati Medical Center, the inauguration marks another step toward integrating advanced imaging technology into diagnosis and minimally invasive patient care—giving physicians access to faster scans, lower radiation exposure, and more detailed images, while opening additional possibilities for image-guided interventions.