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Musculoskeletal imaging with a prototype photon-counting detector

  • Musculoskeletal
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Abstract

Objective

To test a digital imaging X-ray device based on the direct capture of X-ray photons with pixel detectors, which are coupled with photon-counting readout electronics.

Methods

The chip consists of a matrix of 256 × 256 pixels with a pixel pitch of 55 μm. A monolithic image of 11.2 cm × 7 cm was obtained by the consecutive displacement approach. Images of embalmed anatomical specimens of eight human hands were obtained at four different dose levels (skin dose 2.4, 6, 12, 25 μGy) with the new detector, as well as with a flat-panel detector.

Results

The overall rating scores for the evaluated anatomical regions ranged from 5.23 at the lowest dose level, 6.32 at approximately 6 μGy, 6.70 at 12 μGy, to 6.99 at the highest dose level with the photon-counting system. The corresponding rating scores for the flat-panel detector were 3.84, 5.39, 6.64, and 7.34. When images obtained at the same dose were compared, the new system outperformed the conventional DR system at the two lowest dose levels. At the higher dose levels, there were no significant differences between the two systems.

Conclusion

The photon-counting detector has great potential to obtain musculoskeletal images of excellent quality at very low dose levels.

Key Points

  • Novel detectors offer further opportunities to limit radiation dose in radiology.

  • A prototype photon-counting detector has recently been introduced for mammography.

  • This detector has now been shown to have potential for musculoskeletal imaging.

  • It can provide high quality musculoskeletal images at very low dose levels.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Ms. Mary McAllister for her help in editing the manuscript and Mr. Michael Weber for providing the statistical analyses.

This work was supported by the EU Project “Dear Mama” for the development of a new roentgen ray detector programme, “Quality of life and management of living resources” (1998 to 2002), and by a grant from the Austrian Society of Radiation Protection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, AT-1090, Vienna, Austria

    M. Gruber, M. Uffmann & F. Kainberger

  2. Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, AT-1090, Vienna, Austria

    P. Homolka

  3. Medigal Imaging, Institute for High Energy Physics, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

    M. Chmeissani

  4. Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, AT-1090, Vienna, Austria

    M. Pretterklieber

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  1. M. Gruber
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  2. P. Homolka
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  3. M. Chmeissani
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  4. M. Uffmann
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  5. M. Pretterklieber
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  6. F. Kainberger
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Correspondence to M. Gruber.

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Gruber, M., Homolka, P., Chmeissani, M. et al. Musculoskeletal imaging with a prototype photon-counting detector. Eur Radiol 22, 205–210 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2246-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2246-8

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