Combined influence of quantum iterative reconstruction level and kernel sharpness on image quality in photon counting CT angiography of the upper leg.

Aim was to evaluate the influence of different quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR) levels on the image quality of femoral photon-counting CT angiographies (PCD-CTA).Ultra-high resolution PCD-CTA were obtained from both extremities of five extracorporeally-perfused cadavers using constant tube voltage and maximum radiation dose (71.2 ± 11.

Endovascular therapy in intermittent claudication: Impact of IVUS guidance on treatment decisions.

Conservative therapy is favored over revascularization for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication (IC) owing to the better long-term results. The adjunctive use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) significantly improves endovascular therapy. However, data on IVUS and IC is scarce.

Advanced Lung Imaging with Photon-counting Detectors: Insights from Thermoluminescence Dosimetry.

Rationale And Objectives: This study investigates the dose burden of photon-counting detector (PCD) lung CT with ultra-high-resolution (UHR) and standard mode using organ-based tube current modulation (OBTCM).

Materials And Methods: An anthropomorphic Alderson-Rando phantom was scanned in UHR and standard mode with and without OBTCM on three dose levels (IQ 5, 20, 50). Effective radiation dose was determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry in 13 measurement sites and compared with the calculated effective dose derived from the dose-length product.

Ultra-high Versus Standard Resolution Photon-Counting Detector CT Angiography for Imaging of Femoral Stents in a Cadaveric Perfusion Model.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the imaging performance and quality differences of PCD-CT in standard resolution mode (SR) versus ultra-high resolution mode (UHR) in the lower extremity runoff of dose-matched CTAs in a human cadaveric model.

Methods: Extracorporeal perfusion of the upper leg was established in one fresh-frozen human cadaver via inguinal and popliteal accesses using a peristaltic pump. Seven peripheral stents were deployed in the SFA.

Submillisievert Abdominal Photon-Counting CT versus Energy-integrating Detector CT for Urinary Calculi Detection: Impact on Diagnostic Confidence.

Background Contrast-unenhanced abdominal CT is the imaging standard for urinary calculi detection; however, studies comparing photon-counting detector (PCD) CT and energy-integrating detector (EID) CT dose-reduction potentials are lacking. Purpose To compare the radiation dose and image quality of optimized EID CT with those of an experimental PCD CT scan protocol including tin prefiltration in patients suspected of having urinary calculi. Materials and Methods This retrospective single-center study included patients who underwent unenhanced abdominal PCD CT or EID CT for suspected urinary caliculi between February 2022 and March 2023.

The Best of Both Worlds: Ultra-high-pitch Pulmonary Angiography with Free-Breathing Technique by Means of Photon-Counting Detector CT for Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess image quality and radiation dose of ultra-high-pitch CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with free-breathing technique for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism using a photon-counting detector (PCD) CT compared to matched energy-integrating detector (EID)-based single-energy CTPA.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-one PCD-CTPAs were prospectively compared to 51 CTPAs on a third-generation dual-source EID-CT. CTPAs were acquired with an ultra-high-pitch protocol with free-breathing technique (40 mL contrast medium, pitch 3.

Photon-Counting Detector CT Angiography Versus Digital Subtraction Angiography in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Rationale And Objectives: This study aims to compare the diagnostic confidence of photon-counting detector CT angiography (PCD-CTA) depending on the used vascular reformatting kernels with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as diagnostic reference standard in peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Material And Methods: In 39 patients, 45 lower extremity PCD-CTA with subsequent DSA were analyzed. Advanced PAOD (Fontaine stage 4) was ascertained in 77.

Training for endovascular therapy of acute arterial disease and procedure-related complication: An extracorporeally-perfused human cadaver model study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of a recently developed extracorporeally-perfused cadaver model for training the angiographic management of acute arterial diseases and periprocedural complications that may occur during endovascular therapy of the lower extremity arterial runoff.

Materials And Methods: Continuous extracorporeal perfusion was established in three fresh-frozen body donors via inguinal and infragenicular access. Using digital subtraction angiography for guidance, both arterial embolization (e.

An Intra-Individual Comparison of Low-keV Photon-Counting CT versus Energy-Integrating-Detector CT Angiography of the Aorta.

This retrospective study aims to provide an intra-individual comparison of aortic CT angiographies (CTAs) using first-generation photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT) and third-generation energy-integrating-detector CT (EID-CT). High-pitch CTAs were performed with both scanners and equal contrast-agent protocols. EID-CT employed automatic tube voltage selection (90/100 kVp) with reference tube current of 434/350 mAs, whereas multi-energy PCD-CT scans were generated with fixed tube voltage (120 kVp), image quality level of 64, and reconstructed as 55 keV monoenergetic images.

Comparison of ultrahigh and standard resolution photon-counting CT angiography of the femoral arteries in a continuously perfused in vitro model.

Background: With the emergence of photon-counting CT, ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) imaging can be performed without dose penalty. This study aims to directly compare the image quality of UHR and standard resolution (SR) scan mode in femoral artery angiographies.

Methods: After establishing continuous extracorporeal perfusion in four fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens, photon-counting CT angiographies were performed with a radiation dose of 5 mGy and tube voltage of 120 kV in both SR and UHR mode.

Ultra-high resolution photon-counting CT with tin prefiltration for bone-metal interface visualization.

Purpose: To investigate the metal artifact suppression potential of combining tin prefiltration and virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) for osseous microarchitecture depiction in ultra-high-resolution (UHR) photon-counting CT (PCCT) of the lower extremity.

Method: Derived from tin-filtered UHR scans at 140 kVp, polychromatic datasets (T3D) and VMI reconstructions at 70, 110, 150, and 190 keV were compared in 117 patients with lower extremity metal implants (53 female; 62.1 ± 18.

Image Quality and Radiation Dose of CTPA With Iodine Maps: A Prospective Randomized Study of High-Pitch Mode Photon-Counting Detector CT Versus Energy-Integrating Detector CT.

Dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with energy-integrating detector (EID) technology is limited by the inability to use high-pitch technique. The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of anatomic images and iodine maps between high-pitch photon-counting detector (PCD) CTPA and dual-energy EID CTPA. This prospective study included 117 patients (70 men and 47 women; median age, 65 years) who underwent CTPA to evaluate for pulmonary embolism between March 2022 and November 2022.

Photon-Counting Detector CT for Femoral Stent Imaging in an Extracorporeally Perfused Human Cadaveric Model.

Background And Aims: This study aims to compare the performance of first-generation dual-source photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) to third-generation dual-source energy-integrating detector (EID-CT) regarding stent imaging in the femoral arterial runoff.

Methods: Continuous extracorporeal perfusion was established in 1 human cadaver using an inguinal and infragenicular access and peristaltic pump. Seven peripheral stents were implanted into both superior femoral arteries by means of percutaneous angioplasty.

Investigating the Small Pixel Effect in Ultra-High Resolution Photon-Counting CT of the Lung.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate potential benefits of ultra-high resolution (UHR) over standard resolution scan mode in ultra-low dose photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) of the lung.

Materials And Methods: Six cadaveric specimens were examined with 5 dose settings using tin prefiltration, each in UHR (120 × 0.2 mm) and standard mode (144 × 0.

Standardized assessment of vascular reconstruction kernels in photon-counting CT angiographies of the leg using a continuous extracorporeal perfusion model.

This study evaluated the influence of different vascular reconstruction kernels on the image quality of CT angiographies of the lower extremity runoff using a 1st-generation photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT) compared with dose-matched examinations on a 3rd-generation energy-integrating-detector CT (EID-CT). Inducing continuous extracorporeal perfusion in a human cadaveric model, we performed CT angiographies of eight upper leg arterial runoffs with radiation dose-equivalent 120 kVp acquisition protocols (CTDI 5 mGy). Reconstructions were executed with different vascular kernels, matching the individual modulation transfer functions between scanners.

Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting Detector CT Arthrography of the Ankle: A Feasibility Study.

This study was designed to investigate the image quality of ultra-high-resolution ankle arthrography employing a photon-counting detector CT. Bilateral arthrograms were acquired in four cadaveric specimens with full-dose (10 mGy) and low-dose (3 mGy) scan protocols. Three convolution kernels with different spatial frequencies were utilized for image reconstruction (ρ; Br98: 39.

Photon-counting CT for diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism: potential for contrast medium and radiation dose reduction.

Objective: To evaluate the image quality of an ultra-low contrast medium and radiation dose CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) protocol for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism using a clinical photon-counting detector (PCD) CT system and compare its performance to a dual-energy-(DE)-CTPA protocol on a conventional energy-integrating detector (EID) CT system.

Methods: Sixty-four patients either underwent CTPA with the novel scan protocol on the PCD-CT scanner (32 patients, 25 mL, CTDI 2.5 mGy·cm) or conventional DE-CTPA on a third-generation dual-source EID-CT (32 patients, 50 mL, CTDI 5.

Combining virtual monoenergetic imaging and iterative metal artifact reduction in first-generation photon-counting computed tomography of patients with dental implants.

Objectives: While established for energy-integrating detector computed tomography (CT), the effect of virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) and iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) in photon-counting detector (PCD) CT lacks thorough investigation. This study evaluates VMI, iMAR, and combinations thereof in PCD-CT of patients with dental implants.

Material And Methods: In 50 patients (25 women; mean age 62.

Continuous extracorporeal femoral perfusion model for intravascular ultrasound, computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography.

Objectives: We developed a novel human cadaveric perfusion model with continuous extracorporeal femoral perfusion suitable for performing intra-individual comparison studies, training of interventional procedures and preclinical testing of endovascular devices. Objective of this study was to introduce the techniques and evaluate the feasibility for realistic computed tomography angiography (CTA), digital subtraction angiography (DSA) including vascular interventions, and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Methods: The establishment of the extracorporeal perfusion was attempted using one formalin-fixed and five fresh-frozen human cadavers.

Quantitative and qualitative image quality assessment in shoulder examinations with a first-generation photon-counting detector CT.

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT allows for ultra-high-resolution (UHR) examinations of the shoulder without requiring an additional post-patient comb filter to narrow the detector aperture. This study was designed to compare the PCD performance with a high-end energy-integrating detector (EID) CT. Sixteen cadaveric shoulders were examined with both scanners using dose-matched 120 kVp acquisition protocols (low-dose/full-dose: CTDI = 5.

Photon-Counting Versus Energy-Integrating Detector CT Angiography of the Lower Extremity in a Human Cadaveric Model With Continuous Extracorporeal Perfusion.

Objectives: Detailed visualization of the arterial runoff is mandatory for the assessment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. This study aims to compare the performance of a first-generation photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) to a third-generation energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT).

Materials And Methods: Computed tomography angiographies of 8 upper leg arterial runoffs were performed on human cadaveric models with continuous extracorporeal perfusion.

Twin Robotic Gantry-Free Cone-Beam CT in Acute Elbow Trauma.

Background Posttraumatic CT imaging of the elbow can be challenging when patient mobility is limited. Gantry-free cone-beam CT (CBCT) with a twin robotic radiography system offers greater degrees of positioning freedom for three-dimensional elbow scans over gantry-based multidetector CT (MDCT), but studies analyzing their clinical value remain lacking. Purpose To investigate the diagnostic performance of gantry-free CBCT versus two-dimensional radiography in adults and children with acute elbow trauma.

Noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic reconstructions of dual-energy CT angiographies improve assessability of the lower leg arterial segments in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a noise optimized virtual monoenergetic reconstruction algorithm (VMI+) on the image quality and assessability of dual energy (DE) computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the lower extremity runoff.

Methods: A total of 118 lower extremity runoff CTA performed on a 3rd generation DE-CT scanner in 109 patients (54 females; 75.6 ± 9.

One-stop-shop CT arthrography of the wrist without subject repositioning by means of gantry-free cone-beam CT.

Modern cone-beam CT systems are capable of ultra-high-resolution 3D imaging in addition to conventional radiography and fluoroscopy. The combination of various imaging functions in a multi-use setup is particularly appealing for musculoskeletal interventions, such as CBCT arthrography (CBCTA). With this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of CBCTA of the wrist in a "one-stop-shop" approach with a gantry-free twin robotic scanner that does not require repositioning of subjects.