Impact of an online reference system on the diagnosis of rare or atypical abdominal tumors and lesions.

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate whether an online reference system (ORS, STATdx Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands) impacts finding the histologically confirmed diagnosis of rare or atypical abdominal tumors and lesions in radiologic imaging. In total, 101 patients with rare tumor entities or lesions and atypical manifestations of common tumors were enrolled retrospectively. Blinded readings were performed by four radiologists with varying levels of experience, who reported on: (a) correct diagnosis (CD), (b) time needed to find the diagnosis, and (c) diagnostic confidence, initially without followed by the assistance of the ORS.

Pancreatic cancer in photon-counting CT: Low keV virtual monoenergetic images improve tumor conspicuity.

Purpose Of The Study: The aim of the study was to identify differences in the tumor conspicuity of pancreatic adenocarcinomas in different monoenergetic or polyenergetic reconstructions and contrast phases in photon-counting CT (PCCT).

Material And Methods: 34 patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Quantitative image analysis was performed with region of interest (ROI) measurements in different monoenergetic levels ranging from 40 up to 70 keV (5-point steps) and polyenergetic series.

Nonenhanced Photon Counting CT of the Head : Impact of the keV Level, Iterative Reconstruction and Calvaria on Image Quality in Monoenergetic Images.

Purpose: Nonenhanced computed tomography (CT) of the head is among the most commonly performed CT examinations. The spectral information acquired by photon counting CT (PCCT) allows generation of virtual monoenergetic images (VMI). At the same time, image noise can be reduced using quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR).

Minimizing Contrast Media Dose in CT Pulmonary Angiography with Clinical Photon Counting Using High Pitch Technique.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the potential to reduce the amount of iodinated contrast media (CM) for computer tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) with a novel photon-counting-detector CT (PCCT).

Materials And Methods: Overall, 105 patients referred for CTPA were retrospectively included in this study. CTPA was performed using bolus tracking and high-pitch dual-source scanning (FLASH mode) on a novel PCCT (Naeotom Alpha, Siemens Healthineers).

Clinical Low-Dose Photon-Counting CT for the Detection of Urolithiasis: Radiation Dose Reduction Is Possible without Compromising Image Quality.

This study evaluated the feasibility of reducing the radiation dose in abdominal imaging of urolithiasis with a clinical photon-counting CT (PCCT) by gradually lowering the image quality level (IQL) without compromising the image quality and diagnostic value. Ninety-eight PCCT examinations using either IQL70 (n = 31), IQL60 (n = 31) or IQL50 (n = 36) were retrospectively included. Parameters for the radiation dose and the quantitative image quality were analyzed.

Clinical Low Dose Photon Counting CT for the Detection of Urolithiasis: Evaluation of Image Quality and Radiation Dose.

The purpose of this study was the evaluation of image quality and radiation dose parameters of the novel photon counting CT (PCCT, Naeotom Alpha, Siemens Healthineers) using low-dose scan protocols for the detection of urolithiasis. Standard CT scans were used as a reference (S40, Somatom Sensation 40, Siemens Healthineers). Sixty-three patients, who underwent CT scans between August and December 2021, were retrospectively enrolled.

Low-Dose High-Resolution Photon-Counting CT of the Lung: Radiation Dose and Image Quality in the Clinical Routine.

This study aims to investigate the qualitative and quantitative image quality of low-dose high-resolution (LD-HR) lung CT scans acquired with the first clinical approved photon counting CT (PCCT) scanner. Furthermore, the radiation dose used by the PCCT is compared to a conventional CT scanner with an energy-integrating detector system (EID-CT). Twenty-nine patients who underwent a LD-HR chest CT scan with dual-source PCCT and had previously undergone a LD-HR chest CT with a standard EID-CT scanner were retrospectively included in this study.

Image-Quality Assessment of Polyenergetic and Virtual Monoenergetic Reconstructions of Unenhanced CT Scans of the Head: Initial Experiences with the First Photon-Counting CT Approved for Clinical Use.

In 2021, the first clinical photon-counting CT (PCCT) was introduced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the image quality of polyenergetic and virtual monoenergetic reconstructions in unenhanced PCCTs of the head. A total of 49 consecutive patients with unenhanced PCCTs of the head were retrospectively included.

Assessment of hepatic steatosis based on virtual non-contrast computed tomography: Initial experiences with a photon counting scanner approved for clinical use.

Purpose: The present study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images acquired with the first clinical photon counting CT scanner for the assessment of hepatic steatosis.

Method: 140 patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The following CT indices were calculated according to the attenuation on VNC and true non-contrast (TNC) images: Liver attenuation CT (L), difference between liver and spleen attenuation CT (L-S) and the ratio between liver and spleen attenuation CT (L/S).

Virtual Non-Contrast versus True Non-Contrast Computed Tomography: Initial Experiences with a Photon Counting Scanner Approved for Clinical Use.

The present study evaluates the diagnostic reliability of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images acquired with the first photon counting CT scanner that is approved for clinical use by comparing quantitative image properties of VNC and true non-contrast (TNC) images. Seventy-two patients were retrospectively enrolled in this study. VNC images reconstructed from the arterial (VNCa) and the portalvenous (VNCv) phase were compared to TNC images.