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Photon Counting Versus Energy-integrated Detector CT in Detection of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence

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Abstract

Background

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD), an osseous defect overlying the SSC, is associated with a constellation of audiovestibular symptoms. This study sought to compare conventional energy-integrated detector (EID) computed tomography (CT) to photon-counting detector (PCD)-CT in the detection of SSCD.

Material and Methods

Included patients were prospectively recruited to undergo a temporal bone CT on both EID-CT and PCD-CT scanners. Two blinded neuroradiologists reviewed both sets of images for 1) the presence or absence of SSCD (graded as present, absent, or indeterminate), and 2) the width of the bone overlying the SSC (if present). Any discrepancies in the presence or absence of SSCD were agreed upon by consensus.

Results

In the study 31 patients were evaluated, for a total of 60 individual temporal bones (2 were excluded). Regarding SSCD presence or absence, there was substantial agreement between EID-CT and PCD-CT (k = 0.76; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.54–0.97); however, SSCD was present in only 9 (15.0%) temporal bones on PCD-CT, while EID-CT examinations were interpreted as being positive in 14 (23.3%) temporal bones. This yielded a false positive rate of 8.3% on EID-CT. The bone overlying the SSC was thinner on EID-CT images (0.66 mm; SD = 0.64) than on PCD-CT images (0.72 mm; SD = 0.66) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The EID-CT examinations tend to overcall the presence of SSCD compared to PCD-CT and also underestimate the thickness of bone overlying the SSC.

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Funding

No funding was used for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Nathan S. Doyle, John C. Benson, Carrie M. Carr, Felix E. Diehn & John I. Lane

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Matthew L. Carlson

  3. Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Shuai Leng

Authors
  1. Nathan S. Doyle
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  2. John C. Benson
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  3. Carrie M. Carr
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  4. Felix E. Diehn
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  6. Shuai Leng
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  7. John I. Lane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John C. Benson.

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Conflict of interest

N.S. Doyle, J.C. Benson, C.M. Carr, F.E. Diehn, M.L. Carlson, S. Leng and J.I. Lane declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants or on human tissue were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1975 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study took place following approval by the local IRB. All patients were informed of risks, and written informed consent was obtained.

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Doyle, N.S., Benson, J.C., Carr, C.M. et al. Photon Counting Versus Energy-integrated Detector CT in Detection of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence. Clin Neuroradiol 34, 251–255 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-023-01368-x

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