Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025
High Resolution 3D Imaging of Ex-Vivo Biological Samples by Micro CT
Published on: June 21, 2011
Intracranial Calcification Detection; a Comparison Between Micro-CT, Conventional CT and Ultra-high-resolution
Judith van der Bie1, Bernhard P Berghout2, Ricardo P J Budde1
1Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam 3015 GD, the Netherlands (J.V.D.B., B.P.B., R.P.J.B., M.V.S., D.B.).
Rationale And Objectives:
To evaluate the performance of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in identifying and quantifying intracranial calcifications compared to conventional energy-integrating CT (EID-CT), utilizing micro-CT (µCT) as benchmark.
Method:
Thirty cross-sectional histopathological samples of the intracranial arteries were scanned using PCD-CT, EID-CT and µCT. Scans were optimized for µCT for maximum image quality, while clinical protocols were followed for PCD-CT and EID-CT. Additional reconstruction kernels (EID-CT: Hv40/Hv49/Hv59, PCD-CT: Hv40/Hv48/Hv56/Hv64/Hv72/Hv89) were used to enhance the spatial resolution. Two observers evaluated calcification presence subjectively, using Cohen's kappa (κ) and concordance percentages. Mass scores were utilized to objectively analyze calcium detection using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots.
Results:
Observer 1 detected calcifications in 24 samples and Observer 2 in 23 samples using µCT (90% concordance, κ=0.706). The highest agreement was with EID-CT Hv59 (97% concordance, κ=0.911), but calcium detection rates were low (observer 1; 27%, observer 2: 25%) compared to µCT. The most optimal results of calcium detection were obtained with PCD-CT Hv48 (observer 1: concordance=90%, κ=0.706) and PCD-CT Hv56 (observer 2: concordance 77%, κ=0.314) compared to μCT. Mass scores revealed the highest detection rate with PCD-CT Hv64 but also increased noise levels compared to softer kernels (
Conclusion:
PCD-CT outperformed EID-CT in detecting intracranial calcifications compared to µCT. Reconstructions with Hv48 or Hv56 kernels are recommended, considering the noise increase with sharper kernels.
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