Can you get a 3D CT scan in Ireland?

araic88

I'm looking into corrective surgery for an assymetry in my face and have obtained a CT scan to look 'into' the problem
I'd hope to have it done in Ireland or Britain but I've also been in contact with a surgeon in the US who specialises in this and is widely known in the area in the US. He said the CT scan images I got don't really help and that he'd need to see a 3D scan.

I've googled 3D scans but can only find out basics, nothing about where in Ireland you can get one done.
Is it possible to? Really really expensive?!

Cheers!

DrIndy

3d Rendering of CT scans are simply applying this mode to the datapile collected from the CT scan. Most modern scanners and their software can do this (ie most if not all Ct scanners in most hospitals).

A CT scan collects a lot of raw data and this then is rendered into slices at a certain dimension and thickness, and can create a 3D image as a result. Radiographers augment the data to create the slices and the densities (windows) which allow the radiologist to best interpret the scan to answer the original clinicians question. 3D scans are not the bees knees and distortions from fillings are rendered into the image for example (a a big discoid splurge). If you need this mode, it is easy for most scanners to provide this.

However, CT scans are done to provide the best view needed for the clinical scenario outlined by the clinician to answer the question asked. In short - if a 3D scan is not asked for, it will not be done. There are a large number of different windowing modalities for seeing different tissues and structures and this needs to be conveyed or the correct imaging is not done.

araic88

DrIndy wrote: »

3d Rendering of CT scans are simply applying this mode to the datapile collected from the CT scan. Most modern scanners and their software can do this (ie most if not all Ct scanners in most hospitals).

A CT scan collects a lot of raw data and this then is rendered into slices at a certain dimension and thickness, and can create a 3D image as a result. Radiographers augment the data to create the slices and the densities (windows) which allow the radiologist to best interpret the scan to answer the original clinicians question. 3D scans are not the bees knees and distortions from fillings are rendered into the image for example (a a big discoid splurge). If you need this mode, it is easy for most scanners to provide this.

However, CT scans are done to provide the best view needed for the clinical scenario outlined by the clinician to answer the question asked. In short - if a 3D scan is not asked for, it will not be done. There are a large number of different windowing modalities for seeing different tissues and structures and this needs to be conveyed or the correct imaging is not done.

Thanks for you reply Dr.Indy, I showed the requirements (mentioning the 3D request) to my local consultant who was filling out the forms for the scan. He didn't seem to think it was possible for that but I think he tried to request it on the form. It obviously didn't transpire anyway
Thanks again!

drzhivago

araic88 wrote: »

I'm looking into corrective surgery for an assymetry in my face and have obtained a CT scan to look 'into' the problem
I'd hope to have it done in Ireland or Britain but I've also been in contact with a surgeon in the US who specialises in this and is widely known in the area in the US. He said the CT scan images I got don't really help and that he'd need to see a 3D scan.

I've googled 3D scans but can only find out basics, nothing about where in Ireland you can get one done.
Is it possible to? Really really expensive?!

Cheers!

You have the printed sheets probably

The data acquired during the scan is stored in the hospital

Depending on how they did the scan it may still be possible to take the data and do 3D reconstructions

Indy may have been talking about volumetric CT but there are some nifty programs out there that can reconstruct from basic data in any case. if you can get the data and plug into a program called OSIRIX it may be able to do the recons for you (Free program)

As regards the really really expensive the CT even if you had to repeat it would be a drop in the Ocean compared to cost of the surgery

Dont want to be rude but that is significant surgery, will be painful, and no guarantee of successful outcome.

Lots to think about there

From the surgery perspective I dont know if they do that in Ireland
If they do likely to be waiting list
NTPF wouldnt really come in to play because so few people available to do that reconstruction
Small chance it would be organised by HSE in Britain

If you are looking at US from your won perspective think 120-180K I would think as total costs, travelling , accommodation, surgery, hospital etc

araic88

drzhivago wrote: »

You have the printed sheets probably

The data acquired during the scan is stored in the hospital

Depending on how they did the scan it may still be possible to take the data and do 3D reconstructions

Indy may have been talking about volumetric CT but there are some nifty programs out there that can reconstruct from basic data in any case. if you can get the data and plug into a program called OSIRIX it may be able to do the recons for you (Free program)

As regards the really really expensive the CT even if you had to repeat it would be a drop in the Ocean compared to cost of the surgery

Dont want to be rude but that is significant surgery, will be painful, and no guarantee of successful outcome.

Lots to think about there

From the surgery perspective I dont know if they do that in Ireland
If they do likely to be waiting list
NTPF wouldnt really come in to play because so few people available to do that reconstruction
Small chance it would be organised by HSE in Britain

If you are looking at US from your won perspective think 120-180K I would think as total costs, travelling , accommodation, surgery, hospital etc

Thanks for your reply

I was given the scans on CD so will try contact the hospital or get that OSIRIX thing if it's possible with what i was given.

I know it would be significant surgery, I don't neccessarily want to go ahead with anything, at the moment i just want to find out what my options are. I know one of the options would involve moving around bones, which risk sinus damage among other things. No thanks! But it may be possible to improve the assymmetry with a medpor/silicone implant.

Also, i've been told several times that if done in Ireland (or if not possible in Ireland so done abroad) the surgery itself would very likely be covered by medical insurance, because it's not a 'cosmetic surgery' as such. Hopefully that's true!

drzhivago

araic88 wrote: »

Also, i've been told several times that if done in Ireland (or if not possible in Ireland so done abroad) the surgery itself would very likely be covered by medical insurance, because it's not a 'cosmetic surgery' as such. Hopefully that's true!

Benefit is not payable for cosmetic treatment except where surgery is required to:
(i) restore the member’s appearance after an accident, or
(ii) because the member was severely disfigured at birth


That is from the VHI rulebook

presume same applies for other insurers so find out in advance before you get a nasty shock after surgery

araic88

drzhivago wrote: »

Benefit is not payable for cosmetic treatment except where surgery is required to:
(i) restore the member’s appearance after an accident, or
(ii) because the member was severely disfigured at birth


That is from the VHI rulebook

presume same applies for other insurers so find out in advance before you get a nasty shock after surgery

Thanks
(ii) applies. I've had quite a few related surgeries already and VHI have been very good about it.