Photon-Counting Computed Tomography (PC-CT) of the spine: impact on diagnostic confidence and radiation dose

Abstract

Objectives: Computed tomography (CT) is employed to evaluate surgical outcome after spinal interventions. Here, we investigate the potential of multispectral photon-counting computed tomography (PC-CT) on image quality, diagnostic confidence, and radiation dose compared to an energy-integrating CT (EID-CT).

Methods: In this prospective study, 32 patients underwent PC-CT of the spine. Data was reconstructed in two ways: (1) standard bone kernel with 65-keV (PC-CT_std) and (2) 130-keV monoenergetic images (PC-CT_{130 keV}). Prior EID-CT was available for 17 patients; for the remaining 15, an age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched EID-CT cohort was identified. Image quality (5-point Likert scales on overall, sharpness, artifacts, noise, diagnostic confidence) of PC-CT_std and EID-CT was assessed by four radiologists independently. If metallic implants were present (n = 10), PC-CT_std and PC-CT_{130 keV} images were again assessed by 5-point Likert scales by the same radiologists. Hounsfield units (HU) were measured within metallic artifact and compared between PC-CT_std and PC-CT_{130 keV}. Finally, the radiation dose (CTDI_vol) was evaluated.

Results: Sharpness was rated significantly higher (p = 0.009) and noise significantly lower (p < 0.001) in PC-CTstd vs. EID-CT. In the subset of patients with metallic implants, reading scores for PC-CT_{130 keV} revealed superior ratings vs. PC-CT_std for image quality, artifacts, noise, and diagnostic confidence (all p < 0.001) accompanied by a significant increase of HU values within the artifact (p < 0.001). Radiation dose was significantly lower for PC-CT vs. EID-CT (mean CTDI_vol: 8.83 vs. 15.7 mGy; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: PC-CT of the spine with high-kiloelectronvolt reconstructions provides sharper images, higher diagnostic confidence, and lower radiation dose in patients with metallic implants.

Key points: • Compared to energy-integrating CT, photon-counting CT of the spine had significantly higher sharpness and lower image noise while radiation dose was reduced by 45%. • In patients with metallic implants, virtual monochromatic photon-counting images at 130 keV were superior to standard reconstruction at 65 keV in terms of image quality, artifacts, noise, and diagnostic confidence.

Keywords: Artifacts; Bone screws; Radiation dosage; Radiology; Tomography, X-ray computed.