For Immediate Release
Contact: mktgcomm@tams.com

TOSHIBA PROCEEDS WITH INTERNATIONAL CARDIAC CT STUDY

Multi-Center Study on 64-Slice CT Cardiac Imaging Ready for Patient Evaluations

TOKYO, Japan, March 21, 2005 – Taking the next step towards validating the use of multislice CT for diagnostic cardiac imaging, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation today announced the beginning of patient evaluations in the industry’s first multi-center clinical study on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging using 64-slice CT technology.  Initial results of the study will be released in 2006.

In November 2004, Toshiba launched CorE 64 (Coronary Evaluation on 64), an international collaboration with its foremost luminary partners to investigate the use of multislice CT as the primary diagnostic tool for detecting cardiovascular diseases and disorders, as compared to cardiac catheterization.  The CorE 64 multi-center study participants include: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands; Humboldt University, Campus Charité Mitte in Germany; INCOR Heart Institute of the School of Medicine Hospital, Sao Paulo University in Brazil; and Iwate Medical University in Japan.

“We are excited to announce that all of our luminary partners from around the globe are ready to conduct patient evaluations on the Aquilion^TM CFX 64-slice CT to initiate the next step in the CorE 64 multi-center study,” said Toshihiro Rifu, general manager, CT Business Unit, Toshiba Corporation, Medical Systems Company.  “The patient evaluations will involve non-invasive diagnostic imaging of cardiac patients using Toshiba’s leading CT technologies, such as the 64-row Quantum Detector and ^SURECardio^TM and ^SUREPlaque^TM applications for a period of several months, as well as regular meetings with the study group to measure and discuss the clinical effectiveness of cardiac CT imaging against cardiac catheterizations.”

With the industry’s best isotropic-slice resolution and proprietary software applications designed to automate complex diagnostic cardiac studies, Toshiba’s Aquilion CFX line of CT scanners has been optimized for cardiac examinations.  Additionally, its industry-leading, low-contrast 64-row Quantum Detector is instrumental in visualizing soft plaque, measuring coronary stenosis, planning quantitative treatment and calculating plaque burden.

For more information about the Aquilion CFX series including 16-, 32-, and 64-slice editions, Toshiba and its wide range of medical imaging products, please visit www.medical.toshiba.com.

About Toshiba
With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States.  Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, an independent group company of Toshiba Corporation, is a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, MRI and information systems.  Toshiba Corporation is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products, and power systems.  Toshiba has approximately 161,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $53 billion.

Aquilion^TM, ^SURECardio^TM and ^SUREPlaque^TM are trademarks of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation.