Chennai hospital introduces low-dose CT imaging for early cancer, heart disease detection

MGM Healthcare Malar, Adyar, has introduced ultra-low-dose CT chest screening and low-dose CT coronary angiography, using deep-learning AI technology and quantitative imaging, to enable earlier and more precise detection of cancer and coronary artery disease.

The hospital said its ultra-low-dose chest CT program had been used on 260 patients, of whom 179 subsequently underwent biopsy based on imaging findings, and 54 cancers detected in the screened cohort. At a press meet on Tuesday (September 22, 2026), doctors said the approach substantially reduces radiation exposure while preserving the lung architecture needed for diagnosis.

Thinesh Ram, senior consultant radiologist, said invasive imaging through cardiac catheterisation remains a mainstay for assessing coronary artery disease, while non-invasive techniques such as multidetector CT (MDCT) offer a quicker and relatively affordable alternative. However, MDCT has limitations, including radiation exposure and the need for intravenous contrast.