TECHNOLOGY AND CONTRAST MEDIA / REVIEW PAPER
Photon-counting computed tomography in radiology
1
Interventional MR Clinical R&D Institute, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
2
Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye
3
National MR Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, Türkiye
4
Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Türkiye
5
Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio per la Ricerca Medica e di Sanità Pubblica, Pisa, Toscana, Italy
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-05-30
Final revision date: 2024-07-28
Acceptance date: 2024-07-28
Publication date: 2024-09-11
Corresponding author
Oktay Algin
Department of Radiology, Ankara University, Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey, e-mail: oktay.algin@umram.bilkent.edu.tr
Department of Radiology, Ankara University, Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey, e-mail: oktay.algin@umram.bilkent.edu.tr
Pol J Radiol, 2024; 89: 433-442
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) devices have recently been introduced into practice, despite photon-counting detector technology having been studied for many years. PCD-CT devices are expected to provide advantages in dose reduction, tissue specificity, artifact-free imaging, and multi-contrast demonstration capacity. Noise reduction and increased spatial resolution are expected using PCD-CT, even under challenging scanning conditions. Some experimental or preliminary studies support this hypothesis. This pictorial review illustrates the features of PCD-CT systems, particularly in the interventional field. PCD-CT offers superior image quality and better lesion discrimination than conventional CT techniques for various conditions. PCD-CT shows significant improvements in many aspects of vascular imaging. It is still in its early stages, and several challenges have been identified. Also, PCD-CT devices have some important caveats. The average cost of these devices is 3 to 4 times higher than conventional CT units. This additional cost must be justified by improved clinical benefits or reduced clinical harms. Further investigations will be needed to resolve these issues.
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