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Spectroscopic (multi-energy) CT distinguishes iodine and barium contrast material in MICE

  • Computed Tomography
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Spectral CT differs from dual-energy CT by using a conventional X-ray tube and a photon-counting detector. We wished to produce 3D spectroscopic images of mice that distinguished calcium, iodine and barium.

Methods

We developed a desktop spectral CT, dubbed MARS, based around the Medipix2 photon-counting energy-discriminating detector. The single conventional X-ray tube operated at constant voltage (75 kVp) and constant current (150 µA). We anaesthetised with ketamine six black mice (C57BL/6). We introduced iodinated contrast material and barium sulphate into the vascular system, alimentary tract and respiratory tract as we euthanised them. The mice were preserved in resin and imaged at four detector energy levels from 12 keV to 42 keV to include the K-edges of iodine (33.0 keV) and barium (37.4 keV). Principal component analysis was applied to reconstructed images to identify components with independent energy response, then displayed in 2D and 3D.

Results

Iodinated and barium contrast material was spectrally distinct from soft tissue and bone in all six mice. Calcium, iodine and barium were displayed as separate channels on 3D colour images at <55 µm isotropic voxels.

Conclusion

Spectral CT distinguishes contrast agents with K-edges only 4 keV apart. Multi-contrast imaging and molecular CT are potential future applications.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Medipix2 and Medipix3 collaborations and European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) for use of the Medipix detectors; Graeme Kershaw for fixing the mice in the resin; Judith Dawson for help preparing the manuscript; Steffi Girst for dose estimation.

This work was supported by FRST-Man grant PROJ-13860-NMTS-UOC.

This information was presented at the European Congress of Radiology, March, 2009

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand

    N. G. Anderson & A. P. Butler

  2. Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    A. P. Butler, N. Schleich & P. H. Butler

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

    N. J. A. Scott

  4. Medical Physics and Bioengineering, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand

    N. J. Cook & N. Schleich

  5. Physics Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

    J. S. Butzer

  6. Physics Department, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany

    M. Firsching

  7. Hitlab NZ, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    R. Grasset & N. de Ruiter

  8. Physics Section, European Organisation for Nuclear Research, Geneva, Switzerland

    M. Campbell

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  1. N. G. Anderson
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Correspondence to N. G. Anderson.

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Anderson, N.G., Butler, A.P., Scott, N.J.A. et al. Spectroscopic (multi-energy) CT distinguishes iodine and barium contrast material in MICE. Eur Radiol 20, 2126–2134 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1768-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1768-9

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