While CT imaging entails a dose of radiation, it undoubtedly provides valuable information about our health and supports the doctor in making the right diagnosis. Therefore, doctor follows the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle, which means using the minimum radiation dose required to obtain the necessary image quality. Siemens is currently holding the "International CT Image Contest" www.siemens.com/image-contest to encourage doctors from all over the world to utilise their SOMATOM CT to the full extent and to show their best, low-radiation images.

Pro-Cardio Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Centre and Exact CT Imaging Centre has introduced a new low-radiation dual-source 256-slice CT heart scanner - SOMATOM Definition Flash. The new model outperforms the older models in a number of ways - accuracy, safety and quick diagnosis.

A case of Dr Gark Mak has entered the contest. The patient, who was diagnosed with severe Coronary Artery Disease and finally had CABG surgery performed, only received 1.3mSv radiation dose when having the Cardiac CT scan to obtain a fine image. The dose is even less than the radiation dose that an individual receives naturally from the environment in a year, which is about 2-3mSv. To view the CT image of this case, please go to:

www.imagecontest.healthcare.siemens.com/CT_applications/imagecontest/index.php?id=img_917_3489

Public voting starts on 19 September through 20 November, 2011.