CT review Flashcards
(116 cards)
main advantage of CT
the ability to differentiate small differences in density of anatomic structures and abnormalities and the superior quality of the images
spatial resolution
describes the ability of a system to define small objects distinctly
low-contrast resolution
refers the to ability of a system to differentiate on the image objects with similar densities
temporal resolution
refers to the speed at which the data can be acquired
z axis
refers to the thickness of the plane
determines the thickness of the slice
x=width
y=height
what is the most common matrix size in CT
512
attenuation meaning
the degree at which a beam is reduced
density
defined as the mass of a substance per unit volume
common CT number or HU
dense bone 3,000
muscle 50
white matter 45
gray matter 40
blood 20
cerebrospinal fluid 15
water 0
fat -100
lungs -200
air -1,000
* HU less than water are given a negative
positive contrats agents
material of higher density
barium sulfate and iodine
negative contrast agents
low density
water
artifacts
-objects seen on the image but not present on the object scanned
beam hardening artifact
result from preferential absorption of low energy photons which leaves higher intensity photons to strike the detector array
-commonly present at base of skull
-appear as dark streaks
volume averaging
process by which different tissue attenuation values are averaged to produce one less accurate pixel reading
aka partial volume effect
-small pixel size reduces the chances of volume averaging
step and shoot
in 1980s scanning system was a step and shoot.
-the tube rotated 360 around the patient acquiring a single slice. then the motion of the xray tube was stopped while the patient was advanced. this was repeated until desired areas was covered
helical(spiral) scanning
1990s
developed a system that eliminated the cables so there is continuous rotation of the gantry
-allows for uninterrupted data that traces a helical path around the patient
multidetector scanning
in 1992 scanners where introduced that contained two rows of detectors
data acquisition
data are acquired when xrays pass through a patient to strike a detector and are recorded
gantry
gantries vary in size as well as in diameter of the aperture with typical ranges being 70-90cm
-the gantry can be tilted
-slpi rings allow the gantry too rotate continuously making helical scan possible
generator
-high frequency generators are used and are located within the gantry
-the power capacity of the generator is listed in kilowatts(kW)
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xray source
-CT tubes often contain more than one size focal spot
-smaller focal spot improve spatial resolution but concentrate heat into smaller portion can not tolerate as much heat
-anode heat capacity is measured in million heat units(MHU)
-anode that dissipation’s measure in thousand heat units(KHU)
filtration
-filters are used to shape the xray beam
-help reduce radiation dose to patient and help reduce image artifact
-bowtie filters: often used for the body, reduce beam intensity at the periphery of the beam corresponding to the thinner areas of the body
-collimators: restrict the beam and reduce scatter radiation, which improves contrast resolution and decrease patient dose
-source collimators: aka prepatinet collimator, affect slice thickness of the beam
-predetector collimators: act on the xray after it has emerged from the patient and before it strikes the detector
detectors
-collect information regarding the degree to which each anatomic structure attenuates the xray beam
-optimal characteristics of a detector:
-high detector frequency: ability of the detector to capture transmitted photons and change them to electronic signals
-low or no afterglow: brief, persistent flash of scintillation that must be taken into account and subtracted before image reconstruction
-high scatter suppression
-high stability
-made from solid state crystal or xenon gas filled chambers
-xenon gas are much less efficient but are less expensive, easier to calibrate and are highly stable
-solid state also called scintillation use crystal that fluoresces when struck by an xray photon, very efficient absorb almost 100% of the photons that reach them
detector
geometric efficiency of a detector
refers to the amount of space occupied by the detector collimator plates relative to the surface area of the detector