A New Paradigm in Healthcare At Huntsman Cancer Institute, An Angio-CT
For patients across Utah and five surrounding states, cancer care often requires long miles, mountain passes, and hours on the road. Many travel four to seven hours each way to reach Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U). It is one of the few places in the region offering advanced, minimally invasive cancer treatments.
The Siemens Healthineers Nexaris Angio-CT system is more than a technology upgrade. It represents a major shift in how health care can be delivered across the Mountain West.
The Challenge Was Clear
As Dr. Ziga Cizman, Interventional Radiologist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Assistant Professor of Radiology at the U, explains, “Some of our patients have to travel quite far for their procedures. Having the ability to combine two types of image-guided treatments in one visit significantly improves their convenience. Patients who once needed multiple appointments, multiple drivers, and multiple days off work can now get everything done in a single session.”Both physicians said the new technology enhances treatment options. “It empowers us to maximize the benefits for our patients,” says Dr. Wael Saad, Interventional Radiologist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Professor of Radiology at the U. “It also removes barriers to care and enables our team to use imaging combinations even more effectively.”
A Better Workflow for Everyone
Nexaris Angio-CT solves this challenge by placing three imaging tools: real-time X-ray, CT scanning, and ultrasound—in one room, working together. For patients, it means fewer appointments and less time under anesthesia. For doctors, it means starting a procedure using one imaging method and instantly switching to another if they see something unexpected.
“In a single-room solution, you don’t have to wonder, ‘Can I now use CT?’” says Dr. Cizman. “ You can just slide the patient into the CT scanner. That gives you more precise treatments and better outcomes down the road.”
“Having all the tools in one place doesn’t just make things easier—it makes care faster, safer, and more predictable. The medical team no longer needs to coordinate multiple rooms or move patients between spaces. Doctors can see exactly what they need to see, when they need to see it, using whichever imaging method is best.”
Dr. Saad noted, “This new flexibility doesn’t just improve convenience— it can change treatment possibilities. Already, cases are coming in that my physicians never thought could be combined. They’re asking, ‘Can we do this together now?’ It opens a lot of possibilities for us and for our patients.”
A Major Win for Rural and Hard-to-Reach Communities
For the communities Huntsman Cancer Institute serves (covering roughly a quarter of the continental U.S.) the impact is profound. “This is the first technology of its kind available across such a large area,” says Dr. Saad. “It will be impactful in reducing travel and procedure time.”
Huntsman Cancer Institute remains dedicated to advancing patient outcomes and broadening the horizons of cancer care. Siemens Healthineers expects that the Nexaris Angio-CT will support these efforts and help make new possibilities a reality.