Spectral optimization using fast kV switching and filtration for photon counting CT with realistic detector responses: a simulation study.

Purpose: Photon counting CT (PCCT) provides spectral measurements for material decomposition. However, the image noise (at a fixed dose) depends on the source spectrum. Our study investigates the potential benefits from spectral optimization using fast kV switching and filtration to reduce noise in material decomposition.

The effects of intra-detector Compton scatter on low-frequency DQE for photon-counting CT using edge-on-irradiated silicon detectors.

Background: Edge-on-irradiated silicon detectors are currently being investigated for use in full-body photon-counting computed tomography (CT) applications. The low atomic number of silicon leads to a significant number of incident photons being Compton scattered in the detector, depositing a part of their energy and potentially being counted multiple times. Even though the physics of Compton scatter is well established, the effects of Compton interactions in the detector on image quality for an edge-on-irradiated silicon detector have still not been thoroughly investigated.

Empirical optimization of energy bin weights for compressing measurements with realistic photon counting x-ray detectors.

Background: Photon counting detectors (PCDs) provide higher spatial resolution, improved contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and energy discriminating capabilities. However, the greatly increased amount of projection data in photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) systems becomes challenging to transmit through the slip ring, process, and store.

Purpose: This study proposes and evaluates an empirical optimization algorithm to obtain optimal energy weights for energy bin data compression.

Early CT physics research at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Although CT imaging was introduced at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) quite early, with its first CT scanner installed in 1973, CT research at MGH started years earlier. The goal of this paper is to describe some of this innovative work and related accomplishments.

Spectral Photon Counting CT: Imaging Algorithms and Performance Assessment.

Photon counting x-ray detectors (PCDs) with spectral capabilities have the potential to revolutionize computed tomography (CT) for medical imaging. The ideal PCD provides accurate energy information for each incident x-ray, and at high spatial resolution. This information enables material-specific imaging, enhanced radiation dose efficiency, and improved spatial resolution in CT images.