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Energy-sensitive photon counting detector-based X-ray computed tomography

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Abstract

Energy-sensitive photon counting detectors (PCDs) have recently been developed for medical X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging and a handful of prototype PCD-CT systems have been built and evaluated. PCDs detect X-rays by using mechanisms that are completely different from the current CT detectors (i.e., energy integrating detectors or EIDs); PCDs count photons and obtain the information of the object tissues (i.e., the effective atomic numbers and mass densities) to be imaged. Therefore, these PCDs have the potential not only for evolution—to improve the current CT images such as providing dose reduction—but also for a revolution—to enable novel applications with a new concept such as molecular CT imaging. The performance of PCDs, however, is not flawless, and thus, it requires integrated efforts to develop PCD-CT for clinical use. In this article, we review the current status and the prediction for the future of PCDs, PCD-CT systems, and potential clinical applications.

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Fig. 1

Figures are reprinted with a modification from Taguchi and Iwanczyk (Ref. [1])

Fig. 2

The top figure is reprinted from Taguchi et al (Ref. [34]). The bottom two figure are reprinted from Taguchi and Iwanczyk (Ref. [1])

Fig. 3

Figures are reprinted from Koenig et al. (Ref. [38])

Fig. 4

The figure is reprinted from Xu et al. (Ref. [29])

Fig. 5

Figures are reprinted from Taguchi and Iwanczyk (Ref. [1])

Fig. 6

Figures are reprinted from Taguchi et al. (Ref. [45])

Fig. 7

Figures are reprinted from Taguchi and Iwanczyk (Ref. [1])

Fig. 8

Figures are reprinted with modifications from Nakada et al. (Ref. [59])

Fig. 9

Figures are reprinted with modifications from Cammin et al. (Ref. [67])

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful for the financial support received from Siemens Healthcare GmbH (Nos. JHU-2015-CT-1-01-Taguchi-C00218347, JHU-2015-CT-1xx-01-Taguchi-C00219287, and JHU-2016-CT-1-01-Taguchi_C0022).

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  1. Division of Medical Imaging Physics, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, JHOC Room 4263, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Katsuyuki Taguchi

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The author received financial supports from Siemens Healthcare GmbH (Nos. JHU-2015-CT-1-01-Taguchi-C00218347, JHU-2015-CT-1xx-01-Taguchi-C00219287, and JHU-2016-CT-1-01-Taguchi_C0022). The author is a consultant to LISIT, Co., Ltd. (Life Saving Imaging Technologies) (Tokyo, Japan) and JOB Corporation (Yokohama, Japan).

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Taguchi, K. Energy-sensitive photon counting detector-based X-ray computed tomography. Radiol Phys Technol 10, 8–22 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-017-0390-9

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