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Technical Aspects of Dual Energy CT with Dual Source CT Systems

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Dual-Energy CT in Cardiovascular Imaging

Abstract

This article describes technical principles and clinical applications of dual energy (DE) scanning with dual source CT (DSCT) systems, with a focus on vascular and cardiac applications. DSCT systems acquire DE data by simultaneously operating both x-ray tubes at different x-ray tube voltages (different kV). The quality of dual energy images relies on the effective separation of the energy spectra. In DSCT, the energy separation can be significantly improved by tin pre-filtration of the high-energy spectrum. This is a pre-requisite for DE acquisitions at similar radiation dose compared with single-energy CT exams. DSCT systems provide dedicated algorithms to restore the temporal resolution of a quarter of the rotation time (66–83 ms, depending on the scanner generation) in DE CT angiographic examinations of the heart. In addition, iterative beamhardening correction is available to significantly reduce iodine-related beamhardening artifacts, e.g. in the myocardium, which could otherwise degrade the quality of DE material decomposition. DSCT systems have to cope with certain challenges, such as cross-scattered radiation, which requires model-based or measurement-based correction, or a limited scan field of view (SFOV) of the second detector (35.5 cm with third generation DSCT). Pertinent vascular and cardiac applications are the computation of pseudo mono-energetic images to increase the iodine contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at low energies (keV) or to reduce metal artifacts and Ca-blooming at high keV, automated subtraction of bone and calcifications from CT angiographic scans, or the computation of iodine maps and virtual non-enhanced CT images. DE iodine maps of the myocardium acquired at rest and during stress have been used to evaluate the myocardial blood supply and to identify hemodynamically relevant stenosis. DE scanning of the heart is therefore a promising step toward comprehensive evaluation of coronary artery disease with a single modality.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Siemens Healthcare, Computed Tomography, Siemensstr. 1, Forchheim, 91301, Germany

    Thomas Flohr PhD & Bernhard Schmidt PhD

Authors
  1. Thomas Flohr PhD
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  2. Bernhard Schmidt PhD
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Thomas Flohr PhD or Bernhard Schmidt PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diagnostico Maipú, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Patricia M. Carrascosa

  2. Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute and Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida, USA

    Ricardo C. Cury

  3. Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care Center, New York, New York, USA

    Mario J. García

  4. Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Jonathon A. Leipsic

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Flohr, T., Schmidt, B. (2015). Technical Aspects of Dual Energy CT with Dual Source CT Systems. In: Carrascosa, P., Cury, R., García, M., Leipsic, J. (eds) Dual-Energy CT in Cardiovascular Imaging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21227-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21227-2_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-21226-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-21227-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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