[Principles of multidetector-row computed tomography : part 1. Technical design and physicotechnical principles]

Despite the unchanged retention of the fundamental technical and physical principles since its first clinical application in the year 1972, computed tomography (CT) constitutes a mainstay of present day radiological diagnostics. In conjunction with the sub-second gantry rotation times now achieved numerous technical improvements, such as helical scanning and the development of high-performance X-ray tubes as well as multi-row detectors with up to 320 rows allow large areas to be examined with high image quality within only a few seconds. On the basis of these advancements modern multidetector-row CT (MDCT) enables high-resolution slice or volume imaging of the anatomy as well as multiphase and perfusion examinations. An end to innovations in the field of MDCT is not yet foreseeable and further technical developments will open up new radiodiagnostic indications thereby broadening the spectrum of clinical applications of MDCT in the future.