Abstract
Purpose. To evaluate the influence of effective energy on computed tomography (CT) number in monoenergetic images (MEIs). Methods. Three bottle phantoms filled with water, oil, and a contrast agent were scanned at 100 and 140 kVp tube energy with a dual-source CT scanner. Cardiac dual-energy CT data was collected from 17 patients. CT numbers were measured in the 3 phantom materials and in the left ventricular cavity, myocardium, pericardial fat, and vertebral bone in MEIs from 40 to 190 keV. Results. In the phantoms, the mean CT number increased in oil whereas it decreased in the contrast agent as the energy level increased (P < 0.001). In clinical subjects, the mean CT numbers for the left ventricular cavity, myocardium, and vertebral bone were highest in the 40 keV images (P < 0.001) and decreased as the energy level increased. In contrast, the CT number for pericardial fat was lowest in the 40 keV images (P < 0.001) and increased with increasing energy. Conclusions. The influence of effective energy on CT number varies with material and tissue type in monoenergetic cardiac imaging, which could evaluate tissue characteristics through assessment of the changes in CT number associated with effective energies.
Highlights
Dual-source computed tomography (CT) consists of 2 X-ray tubes with 2 corresponding detectors arranged at an angular offset, which produces CT images with high temporal resolution [1]
Image quality in monoenergetic imaging is heavily influenced by the energy level, and optimization of the effective energy for individual patients is important for appropriate utilization of monoenergetic coronary CT angiography [3]
We confirmed that the mean CT number for the contrast agent was significantly higher in 100 kVp images than in Sn 140 and in composite 120 kVp images (P < 0.001), and significantly higher in composite 120 kVp images than in Sn 140 kVp images (P < 0.001)
Summary
Dual-source computed tomography (CT) consists of 2 X-ray tubes with 2 corresponding detectors arranged at an angular offset, which produces CT images with high temporal resolution [1]. Dual-source CT can simultaneously operate each tube at a different tube potential, generating dualenergy images at a temporal resolution of 140 ms [2]. Dual-energy computed tomography (DE-CT) can generate composite images and monoenergetic images by calculating the 2 image datasets acquired using polyenergetic Xrays at high and low tube energy. Image quality in monoenergetic imaging is heavily influenced by the energy level, and optimization of the effective energy for individual patients is important for appropriate utilization of monoenergetic coronary CT angiography [3]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of effective energy on CT number in cardiac monoenergetic images
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