A biological phantom for contrast-media-based perfusion studies with CT

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Perfusion computed tomography (PCT) is gaining prominence due to advancements in CT technology.
• Accurate in vitro models are crucial for developing and validating PCT protocols and algorithms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable biological phantom for in vitro perfusion measurements using PCT.
• To design, improve, and validate PCT scan protocols and postprocessing algorithms.

Main Methods:

• A preserved porcine kidney was utilized as a biological phantom connected to a pump system.
• Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scans were performed with varying flow rates and contrast injections.
• Two algorithms were used to calculate parenchymal flow, and long-term stability was assessed over one year.

Main Results:

• A strong linear correlation (r² = 0.99) was observed between input flow rate and calculated phantom tissue flow.
• The phantom demonstrated excellent long-term stability, with no alteration in enhancement properties over one year.
• Bolus dispersion was minimal (approx. 5% change over 2m), allowing for realistic bolus geometry design.

Conclusions:

• A robust biological phantom for long-term, repeatable parenchymal flow measurements in PCT was successfully developed.
• The phantom facilitates the design and validation of diverse bolus geometries with minimal dispersion for PCT applications.