Ces radiol. 2020, 74(3):159-170 | DOI: 10.55095/CesRadiol2020/026

Photon-counting detector computed tomography. A Tribute to 125^th Anniversary of the X-rays Discovery by Wilhelm Conrad RöntgenOriginal article

Jiří Ferda¹, Tomáš Vendiš¹, Jan Baxa¹, Hynek Mírka¹, Bernhard Schmidt², André Henning², Stefan Ulzheimer², Thomas Flohr²

¹ Klinika zobrazovacích metod LF UK a FN, Plzeň

² Computed Tomography Development Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Computed Tomography, Forchheim, Germany

Aim: The aim of the study is to summarize the first experience with the imaging using prototype of single-source photon-counting-detector CT in clinically indicated examinations.

Method: All examinations were performed using single-source CT equipped with photon-counting detector. The sample of examinations in 50 patients were evaluated. There were 20 lung parenchyma examinations in diffuse lung diseases (including 10 with ultrahigh resolution mode with slice resolution 0.2 mm), 15 examinations of the abdomen in arterial and portal venous phase (incl. 5 ultrahigh resolution mode with slice resolution of 0.2 mm), 10 examinations of cervical and intracranial arteries, five brain examinations including ultrahigh resolution of the temporal bone. The data acquisition was made using resolution of 0.4 mm for a standard mode and 0.2 mm for ultrahigh resolution.

Results: In non-selected patients with the indication for a clinical imaging, there were obtained images fully useful for a clinical assessment. Those images were minimally at the same level as made with conventional CT, or better. Thanks to the excellent resolution, it could be possible to visualize the tiny anatomical structures like bronchi on sub-segmental level of higher generation, the high quality display of vascular structures and articulations of middle ear ossicles. The effective dose equivalent reaches value less than one mSv in all lung, cervical and intracranial arteries, brain and temporal bone, those examinations of the abdomen did not exceed the for conventional CT typical levels of mSv.

Conclusion: The imaging using photon-counting-detector CT were acquired with full clinical usefulness, radiation doses burden to the scanned individual are lower than those in conventional CT in most of indication. The subtle, submillimeter details of the anatomical structures could be visualized with the high certainty.

Keywords: computed tomography, photon-counting detector, spectral imaging

Grants and funding:

Podpořeno projektem MZ ČR Koncepční rozvoj výzkumné instituce 00669806 - FN Plzeň.

Accepted: September 15, 2020; Published: September 1, 2020  Show citation