Clinical Applications of Photon-Counting Detector Computed Tomography

With the unique feature of photon-counting detector (PCD), it can benefit many clinical applications, either enabling new applications that are not feasible with current technology, or enhancing existing clinical applications by improving image quality or reducing radiation dose. In this chapter, we will review the benefits of PCD-CT that have been demonstrated in recent studies, including increased iodine contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and dose efficiency, reduced electronic noise, reduced beam-hardening and metal artifacts, dose-efficient high spatial resolution imaging, and simultaneous multi-energy data acquisition that enables differentiation and quantification of contrast agents and tissue types from a single scan. We will then discuss how these benefits can impact CT applications in each clinical area, such as neuro, chest, vascular, and musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging. Specific examples of using PCD-CT in each clinical area will be presented and discussed, using phantoms, cadavers, and in vivo human subject studies. Outlook of future development in PCD-CT and its impact on clinical practice will also be discussed.