Multi-energy CT with triple x-ray beams and photon-counting-detector CT for simultaneous imaging of two contrast agents: An experimental comparison

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multi-energy CT (MECT) enabled by energy-resolved photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT) is promising for materialspecific imaging with multiple contrast agents. However, non-idealities of the PCD such as pulse pileup, K-edge escape, and charge sharing may degrade the spectral performance. To perform MECT, an alternative approach was proposed by extending a "Twin Beam" design to a dual-source CT scanner with energy-integrating-detector (EID) by operating one or both sources in the "Twin Beam" mode to acquire three (triple-beam configuration) or four (quadruple-beam configuration) distinct X-ray beam measurements. Previous computer simulation studies demonstrated that the image quality and dose efficiency of the triple-beam configuration were comparable to that in PCD-CT for a three-material decomposition task involving iodine, bismuth, and water. The purpose of this work is to experimentally validate the proposed triple-beam MECT technique in comparison with PCD-CT. To mimic the dual-source triple-beam acquisition, two separate scans, one at 80 kV and the other at 120 kV operated in the "Twin Beam" mode, were performed on a single-source CT scanner. Two potential clinical applications of MECT for multiple contrast agents were investigated: iodine/gadolinium for biphasic liver imaging and iodine/bismuth for small bowel imaging. The results indicate that the imaging performance of the EID-based MECT may be comparable to that on the current PCD-CT platform for both the iodine/gadolinium and the iodine/bismuth material decomposition tasks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMedical Imaging 2019
Subtitle of host publicationPhysics of Medical Imaging
EditorsTaly Gilat Schmidt, Guang-Hong Chen, Hilde Bosmans
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510625433
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
EventMedical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging - San Diego, United States
Duration: Feb 17 2019Feb 20 2019

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume10948
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging 2019: Physics of Medical Imaging
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period2/17/192/20/19

Keywords

  • Dual-energy CT (DECT)
  • Material Decomposition
  • Multi-energy CT (MECT)
  • Multiple Contrast Agents
  • Photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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