CT review Flashcards
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)
-
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
detector
capture efficiency
refers the to ability with which the detector obtains xray beams that have passed through the patient
detector
absorption efficiency
refers to the number of photons absorbed by the detector
detector
response time
time required for the signal from the detector to return to zero
detector
dynamic range
the ratio of the maximum signal measured to the minimum signal the detectors can measure
scanner generation
6 generations
1st generation: thin xray beam passed linearly over the patient and a single detector followed on opposite side of the patient.the tube and detector where then rotated slightly and process was repeated until 180 degrees was covered. NO LONGER USED
2nd generation: xray beam passed linearly across the patient before rotating, but with a fan shaped xray beam.NO LONGER USED
3rd generation: consist of an xray tube that produces a fan shaped bema that covers the entire field of view and a detector array.tube is focused on the detector array so collimation is available reducing scatter, disadvantage is frequent ring artifacts
4th generation: use a detector array that is fixed in a 360 circle within the gantry, the tube rotates within the detector array and produces a fan shaped beam. motion artifacts are an issue, will produce higher dose with same technique as 3rd generation
5th generation: aka electron beam CT(EBCT) or ultra fast CT, xray beam or detector moves
6th generation: aka dual source use two side by side tube detector arrays which can be energized using same or different kVp
detector electronics
-DAS data acquisition system measures the number of photons that strike the detector and converts the information to a digital signal and send the signal to the computer
-DAS is position in the gantry near the detectors
-ADC analog to digital converter converts the analog signals from the detector to digital format
image reconstruction terminology
image reconstruction: the process of manipulating data
-algorithm: is a precise set of steps to be performed in a specific order to save a problem
-reconstruction algorithms: used to convert information obtained from the detector array into information suitable fro image display
-fast Fourier transfrom(FTF) efficient algorithm that is used in image analysis
-interpolation: mathematical method of estimating the value of an unknown value using the known values on either side of the unknown
equipment components used for image reconstruction
-hardware is the portion of the computer that can be physically touched
-software is instructions that tell the computer what to do and when tot do it
-archiving: saving data on axillary devices for possible future viewing
-principle components of a computer are:
-input device
-output device
-central processing unit
-memory
- input device: feed data into the computer(keyboard, mouse, touch screen, CT mechanisms)
-output device: accept processed data from the computer(monitor, laser camera, printer)
-CPU central processing unit interprets computer program instructions and sequences tasks.
-CPU is made up of microprocessor, control unit, primary memory
-Types of memory
-ROM(read only memory)
-RAM(random access memory)
-WORM(write once read many)-saved memory cannot be rewritten, erased, reformatted or
data types
-raw data: includes all measurements obtained from the detector array, aka scan data
-prospective reconstruction: image reconstruction automatically produced during scanning
-retrospective reconstruction: the same raw data is used later to generate a new image
-image data: those that result once the computer has processed the raw data and displayed an image
terminology
-ray: the path the xray beam takes from the tube to the detector
-ray sum: measurement of how much the beam is attenuated
-view: complete set of ray sums
-attenuation profile:eh system accounts for the attenuation properties of each ray and correlates them with the position of the ray
- back projection: process of converting the data from the attenuation profile to a matrix
-convolution: process of applying a filter function to an attenuation profile
-Scan Field of View(SFOV)determines the area within the gantry from the raw data are acquired
-DFOV(display field of view) determines how much of the raw data is used to create an image
display monitors
-output device allows the information stored to be displayed
-the output device is usually a cathode ray tube(CRT) or some form of flat panel like a TFT LCD, or LED
-DAC convert the anaolg signal to digital signal
cameras
-multiformat cameras transfer the image displayed on the monitor to film
-laser cameras bypass the image on the display monitor and transfer the data directly form the computer which improves image quality
gray scale
-there is 2000 different Hounsfield Units but monitor can only display about 1024 shades
-the human eye can only differentiate typically fewer than 40 shades of gray
-window width determines the number of hounsfield units assigned to each level of gray
-0 hounsfield units=water
- -1000 hounsfield units=air
-1000 hounsfield units=dens material like bone
-lower values are darker shades
-higher values are lighter shades
window width
-determines the HU represented on a specific image
-selects the quantity of HU to be displayed as shoes of gray
-values high than selected range appear white
-values lower than selected range appear black
-increasing window width=more numbers assigned to each shade of gray
-wide window widths are best for imaging tissue types that vary
-narrow window width is used for tissue with similar densities
-manipulation of window width and window levels referred to as windowing
window level
-selects the center CT value of the window width
-slects which HU are displayed on the image
how to determine the range
if the window width is 300
window level is 200
divide window within half: 300/2=150
subtract that from the window level: 200-150=50 which is the lower limit
to calculate ether upper limit
150+200=350
therefore the gray scale range is 50 to 350
ROI
-region of interest
-defining an area of interest
-place a circle over a area of concern/interest to get the average HU of that area
-if a ROI is placed over an area the reading is the average for al the pixels within that ROI
standard deviation
-factors that produce high standard deviation include
1.mixed attenuation tissue within the ROI(calcium within the organ)
2.ROI includes a streak artifact
3.ROI that is not inside the margins of an object being measured (kidney cyst measured with adjacent renal calyx)
reference image
-displays the slice ;Ines on corresponding locations on the scout image
-helps localize slices according to anatomic landmarks
image magnification
-uses only image data and does not improve resolution
-simply makes the existing image bigger
-often used when acquiring distance measurements or placing a ROI
histogram
graphical display showing how frequently a range of CT number occurs within a ROI
common window settings
head
posterior fossa: ww:150,WL:40
brain:ww;100,WL30
temporal bone;WW;2,800,WL:600
neck:WW:250,WL30
chest
mediastinum:WW;350,WL:50
lung WW:1500,WL:-600
abdomen
soft tissue:WW:350,WL:50
bone:WW;1800,WL:400
spine
soft tissue:WW:250,WL:50
bone:WW:1800,WL:400