Flat-Panel Volume CT: Fundamental Principles, Technology, and Applications

Abstract

Flat-panel volume computed tomography (CT) systems have an innovative design that allows coverage of a large volume per rotation, fluoroscopic and dynamic imaging, and high spatial resolution that permits visualization of complex human anatomy such as fine temporal bone structures and trabecular bone architecture. In simple terms, flat-panel volume CT scanners can be thought of as conventional multidetector CT scanners in which the detector rows have been replaced by an area detector. The flat-panel detector has wide z-axis coverage that enables imaging of entire organs in one axial acquisition. Its fluoroscopic and angiographic capabilities are useful for intraoperative and vascular applications. Furthermore, the high-volume coverage and continuous rotation of the detector may enable depiction of dynamic processes such as coronary blood flow and whole-brain perfusion. Other applications in which flat-panel volume CT may play a role include small-animal imaging, nondestructive testing in animal survival surgeries, and tissue-engineering experiments. Such versatility has led some to predict that flat-panel volume CT will gain importance in interventional and intraoperative applications, especially in specialties such as cardiac imaging, interventional neuroradiology, orthopedics, and otolaryngology. However, the contrast resolution of flat-panel volume CT is slightly inferior to that of multidetector CT, a higher radiation dose is needed to achieve a comparable signal-to-noise ratio, and a slower scintillator results in a longer scanning time.

Evaluation of a Metal Artifacts Reduction Algorithm Applied to Postinterventional Flat Panel Detector CT Imaging

“…FDCT offers higher spatial resolution relative to multidetector row CT and improved visualization of clipped aneurysms and endovascular stents. 1 Imaging performed in the endovascular suite also offers rapid visualization of periprocedural complications, thus allowing faster management. 2 The acquired FDCT images, however, are degraded by artifacts created by radiodense cerebral endovascular and surgical implants including coils, stents, and clips, limiting the use of FDCT as a postprocedural imaging technique.…”

Flat Detector Angio-CT following Intra-Arterial Therapy of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Identification of Hemorrhage and Distinction from Contrast Accumulation due to Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption

“…[1][2][3][4] While flat panel detector CT (FPCT) is currently not reliable in depicting ischemic brain lesions, it proved to be a sensitive tool for the detection of intracranial hematomas in both experimental and clinical settings. 5,6 However, there have been numerous reports of abnormal contrast enhancement following neurovascular interventions that frequently mimic subarachnoid, intraventricular, or intracerebral hemorrhage.…”

The retrobulbar sinus is superior to the lateral tail vein for the injection of contrast media in small animal cardiac imaging

“…18 The second scanner used was a VolumeCT prototype (Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany) consisting of a standard CT gantry equipped with a flat detector. 19 This Fat detector's resolution with its CsI scintillator was 1024 Â 768 pixels in 2 Â 2 binning mode, each of size 388 mm allowing for a theoretical spatial resolution in the center of rotation of 238 mm. To increase the detector frame rate from 30 to 100 projections per second, only data in the region of 1024 Â 192 pixels in the detector center were produced.…”