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A New Frontier in Temporal Bone Imaging: Photon-Counting Detector CT Demonstrates Superior Visualization of Critical
J C Benson1, K Rajendran2, J I Lane2
1From the Departments of Radiology (J.C.B., K.R., J.I.L., F.E.D., N.M.W., J.E.T., J.G.F., C.H.M., S.L.) Benson.John3@mayo.edu.
Background And Purpose:
Photon-counting detector CT is a new technology with a limiting spatial resolution of ≤150 μm. In vivo comparisons between photon-counting detector CT and conventional energy-integrating detector CT are needed to determine the clinical impact of photon counting-detector CT in temporal bone imaging.
Materials And Methods:
Prospectively recruited patients underwent temporal bone CT examinations on an investigational photon-counting detector CT system after clinically indicated temporal bone energy-integrating detector CT. Photon-counting detector CT images were obtained at an average 31% lower dose compared with those obtained on the energy-integrating detector CT scanner. Reconstructed images were evaluated in axial, coronal, and Pöschl planes using the smallest available section thickness on each system (0.4 mm on energy-integrating detector CT; 0.2 mm on photon-counting detector CT). Two blinded neuroradiologists compared images side-by-side and scored them using a 5-point Likert scale. A post hoc reassignment of readers' scores was performed so that the scores reflected photon-counting detector CT performance relative to energy-integrating detector CT.
Results:
Thirteen patients were enrolled, resulting in 26 image sets (left and right sides). The average patient age was 63.6 [SD, 13.4] years; 7 were women. Images from the photon-counting detector CT scanner were significantly preferred by the readers in all reconstructed planes (P < .001). Photon-counting detector CT was rated superior for the evaluation of all individual anatomic structures, with the oval window (4.79) and incudostapedial joint (4.75) receiving the highest scores on a Likert scale of 1-5.
Conclusions:
Temporal bone CT images obtained on a photon-counting detector CT scanner were rated as having superior spatial resolution and better critical structure visualization than those obtained on a conventional energy-integrating detector scanner, even with a substantial dose reduction.
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