Advantages of Photon-Counting Detector CT in Aortic Imaging

Figures

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  Figure 1. Physical principle of the Photon-counting Detector CT.

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  Figure 2. Comparison of image quality of an abdominal aortic aneurysm evaluated with photon-counting CT and standard contrast media (axial images). A thickened aortic wall related to aortitis (between solid and empty arrowhead) and intraluminal thrombotic stratification (* white asterisks) are visible at the level of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. High Resolution evaluation (Matrix 1024 × 1024) (a); Virtual Non-Contrast VCN (b); Iodine Map (c); 55 keV reconstruction (d); Pure Lumen reconstruction (e); Spectral Dual Energy Reconstruction (f). Department of Radiology, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.

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  Figure 3. Comparison of image quality with photon-counting CT and standard contrast media. Abdominal aortic lumen with wall calcification axial images. High Resolution images (Matrix 1024 × 1024) with different reconstruction kernels (window level W2000, C700): 40 keV Kernel Bv48, Q4 (a); 55 keV Kernel Bv48, Q4 (b); 55 keV Kernel Bv68, Q4 (c); 70 keV Kernel Bv48, Q4 (d); Iodine map reconstruction, kernel Bv40, Q4 (e); Virtual Non-Contrast VCN reconstruction (f); 3D-Cinematic Rendering of the abdominal aorta (g). Department of Radiology, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.

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  Figure 4. Comparison of image quality with photon-counting CT and standard contrast media. Abdominal aortic lumen with wall calcification coronal images. High Resolution images (Matrix 1024 × 1024) with different reconstruction kernels (window level W2000, C700): 40 keV Kernel Bv48, Q4 (a); 55 keV Kernel Bv48, Q4 (b); 55 keV Kernel Bv68, Q4 (c); 70 keV Kernel Bv48, Q4 (d); Iodine map reconstruction, kernel Bv40, Q4 (e); Virtual Non Contrast VCN reconstruction (f). Department of Radiology, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.

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  Figure 5. Aortic angiographic evaluation of the abdominal aortic aneurysm evaluated with photon-counting CT and standard contrast media (the same example of Figure 2, coronal view). The aortic wall is indicated between solid and empty arrowhead. 3D-Volume Rendering representation (a); High-Resolution coronal evaluation, 55 keV, Kernel Bv68 Q4 Matrix 1024 (b); Spectral Dual Energy coronal Reconstruction (c). Department of Radiology, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.