Neuroimaging with photon-counting computed tomography: A review of clinical applications

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) represents a transformative advancement in neuroimaging, offering superior spatial resolution, spectral imaging capabilities, reduced radiation dose, and enhanced contrast-to-noise ratios. This review explores the technical foundations of PCCT, its advantages over conventional CT, and its growing applications in neuroimaging. PCCT has shown promise in improving neurovascular imaging, detecting small vessels, and reducing artifacts near metallic implants. It also enhances the visualization of spontaneous intracranial hypotension and cerebrospinal fluid leaks and provides superior diagnostic accuracy in acute ischemic stroke imaging. However, current limitations, including protocol complexity, high data volume, and the absence of integrated artificial intelligence noise reduction algorithms, pose challenges to widespread adoption. Future research should address these limitations and refine PCCT's applications to unlock its full clinical potential.