title: Single-and dual-energy CT with monochromatic synchrotron x-rays.
abstract: We explored the potential for clinical research of computed tomography (CT) with monochromatic x-rays using the preclinical multiple energy computed tomography (MECT) system at the National Synchrotron Light Source. MECT has a fixed, horizontal fan beam with a subject apparatus rotating about a vertical axis; it will be used for imaging the human head and neck. Two CdWO4-photodiode array detectors with different spatial resolutions were used. A 10.5 cm diameter acrylic phantom was imaged with MECT at 43 keV and with a conventional CT (CCT) at 80 kVp: spatial resolution approximately equal to 6.5 line pairs (lp)/cm for both; slice height, 2.6 mm for MECT against 3.0 mm for CCT; surface dose, 3.1 cGy for MECT against 2.0 cGy for CCT. The resultant image noise was 1.5 HU for MECT against 3 HU for CCT. Computer simulations of the same images with more precisely matched spatial resolution, slice height and dose indicated an image-noise ratio of 1.4:1.0 for CCT against MECT. A 13.5 cm diameter acrylic phantom imaged with MECT at approximately 0.1 keV above the iodine K edge and with CCT showed, for a 240 micrograms I ml-1 solution, an image contrast of 26 HU for MECT and 13 and 9 HU for the 80 and 100 kVp CCT, respectively. The corresponding numbers from computer simulation of the same images were 26, 12, and 9 HU, respectively. MECT's potential for use in clinical research is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973-5000, USA.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Dilmanian
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Button
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Coderre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Krus
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcovici
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Roque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shleifer
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Slatkin
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Thomlinson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine; D009333:Neck; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011817:Rabbits; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D007455:Iodine