Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2025

High-Resolution Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Small Animals
Published on: December 16, 2022
[New contrast agents for photon-counting computed tomography]
1Röntgenbildgebung und CT (E025), Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Deutschland. stefan.sawall@dkfz-heidelberg.de.
Background:
The introduction of energy-selective photon-counting detectors into clinical practice represents the next milestone in computed tomography (CT). In addition to significantly higher resolution, these detectors allow the implicit acquisition of dual or multispectral data in a single measurement through the use of typically freely selectable thresholds. This capability reignited the interest in new contrast agents based on heavy elements, so-called high‑z elements, for clinical CT.
Objective:
The present article aims to investigate the potential suitability of different chemical elements as contrast agents and to discuss possible clinical applications, for example, K‑edge imaging or simultaneous application of different contrast agents.
Conclusion:
First preclinical experiments as well as experiments in large animals could demonstrate potential advantages of contrast agents based on heavy elements. For example, such contrast agents promise a significant increase in image contrast compared to conventional iodine-based agents.
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