Multislice CT: 64 slices and beyond

Since the first introduction of 4-slice multislice computed tomography (MSCT) more than 6 years ago, MSCT imaging has achieved widespread acceptance and became a standard of care in routine clinical practice by offering high-speed, non-invasive, thin-slice diagnostic scanning for a wide range of clinical applications in radiology and cardiology. In the past year, the industry has witnessed an explosive increase in the amount of data obtained by MSCT and in the number at acquired slices to 32 and 64. While some experts have argued that a 16-slice system is sufficient from a practical standpoint, a closer examination of 32- and 64-slice systems offers new and superior clinical benefits over and above 16-slice technology, especially in imaging of the coronary arteries and in multiphase and functional studies. With the introduction of 32-slice computed tomography (CT) systems, the routinely acquired slice thicknesses have been reduced to 0.5 mm and 1 mm. At these slice thickness levels, it is possible to acquire isotropic volume data sets in all CT scans. Recently, diagnosis based on isotropic volume data has become the standard in CT imaging as it offers far greater clinical benefits than previous 16-slice CT technology. While many of the clinical benefits of a 64-slice CT system center around imaging the heart, there are several distinct areas in the radiology practice that benefit as well. One key area is in the field of interventional neuroradiology and the ability to separate venous from arterial flow using computed tomography angiography (CTA). The evolution of MSCT has opened up new frontiers in diagnostic imaging that were unimaginable just a few years ago.