Discrimination between calcium hydroxyapatite and calcium oxalate using multienergy spectral photon-counting CT

Tracy E. Kirkbride, Aamir Y. Raja, Kristin Müller, Christopher J. Bateman, Fabio Becce, Nigel G. Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. We aimed to determine whether multienergy spectral photon-counting CT could distinguish between clinically relevant calcium crystals at clinical x-ray energy ranges. Energy thresholds of 15, 22, 29, and 36 keV and tube voltages of 50, 80, and 110 kVp were selected. Images were analyzed to assess differences in linear attenuation coeffcients between various concentrations of calcium hydroxyapatite (54.3, 211.7, 808.5, and 1169.3 mg/cm3) and calcium oxalate (2000 mg/cm3). CONCLUSION. The two lower concentrations of hydroxyapatite were distinguishable from oxalate at all energy thresholds and tube voltages, whereas discrimination at higher concentrations depended primarily on the energy thresholds used. Multienergy spectral photoncounting CT shows promise for distinguishing these calcium crystals.

Original languageBritish English
Pages (from-to)1088-1092
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology
Volume209
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2017

Keywords

  • Calcium hydroxyapatite
  • Calcium oxalate
  • Ectopic calcifcations
  • Linear attenuation coeffcients
  • Multienergy spectral photon-counting CT

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