Spectral CT: a technology primer for contrast agent development

Recent developments in spectral CT systems featuring binned photon‐counting detector technology have enabled an imaging concept on a pre‐clinical level that has been coined K‐edge imaging. This exciting concept allows the selective and quantitative imaging of contrast media by exploiting the K‐edge discontinuity in the photo‐electric component of X‐ray absorption. An ideal application for K‐edge imaging is CT imaging of target‐specific and conventional contrast agents that have been designed to be spectral‐CT‐visible. Current limitations in detector hardware, however, result in typically high noise levels that hamper the application of K‐edge imaging. In order to battle noise and assure sufficient sensitivity, the development of dedicated K‐edge contrast media in combination with advanced image processing techniques is imperative. This work attempts a comprehensive overview on how the concert of dedicated contrast media, optimized data acquisition and innovative data processing techniques improve sensitivity of K‐edge imaging which will foster clinical translation of the technology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent developments in spectral CT systems featuring binned photon‐counting detector technology have enabled K‐edge imaging a method enabling selective and quantitative imaging of target‐specific and conventional contrast agents that have been designed to be spectral‐CT‐visible. However, current hardware limitations ...

Source: Contrast Media and Molecular Imaging - January 27, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Carsten O. Schirra, Bernhard Brendel, Mark A. Anastasio, Ewald Roessl Tags: Special Focus Review Source Type: research