Siemens Healthineers has unveiled a photon-counting CT scanner specifically designed for radiation therapy planning, aiming to improve treatment accuracy for cancer patients through enhanced imaging capabilities.
The Naeotom Alpha.Prime for radiation treatment (RT) planning incorporates cadmium telluride crystal detector technology to deliver improved image resolution and contrast. This technology enables clinicians to obtain detailed three-dimensional anatomical images and calculate radiation dose distribution with greater precision.
Digital workflow integration
The scanner integrates with the ARIA CORE Oncology Information System, enabling direct transfer of prescriptions and scanning requirements to establish a digital workflow. This integration automatically selects appropriate RT scan protocols, streamlining the radiation therapy simulation process.
Gabriel Haras, head of cancer therapy imaging at Siemens Healthineers, said: “Photon-counting technology marks a significant leap in radiotherapy imaging. With Naeotom Alpha.Prime for RT, we bring this innovation into clinical practice – allowing for more detailed images providing additional information for treatment planning.”
Clinical experience
Dr Hrvoje Kaučić, chief oncologist at Radiochirurgia Zagreb, Croatia, has been using the scanner for six months. He said: “Compared to previous images, those acquired with our new photon-counting CT scanner show considerably greater detail. For instance, we can now detect very small liver lesions, as small as 4mm, on post-contrast images. The enhanced visibility provided by Naeotom Alpha.Prime in RT enables us to use much narrower clinical margins – ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.”
Building on established technology
Siemens Healthineers introduced the world’s first photon-counting computed tomography scanner in 2021. The company has now transferred RT-specific features to photon-counting CT technology, developed in collaboration with clinical partners globally.
The CT scanner adds to Siemens Healthineers’ existing portfolio for radiation therapy applications. The enhanced imaging capabilities aim to support optimised treatment planning by providing additional clinically relevant information from single scans.
The announcement was made at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology in San Francisco on 28 September 2025.
