Introduction & principle

of
Computed
Tomography

Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Azeem,

Feb 2010
MD, FRCR
Computed Transverse Axial Tomography (CTAT)
Computer Assisted Tomography (CAT)
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT)
Computerized Tomography (CT)

Computed Tomography (CT)

 X-ray tube

Detector
 History

• Allan Cormack
Sir Godfrey Hounsfield

– South African nuclear
British research engineer in

Central Research Laboratories at
physicist at Tufts University in EMI London
Massachusetts.

Techniques of digital pattern
– First laboratory model of CT reconstruction
scanners (1963)

Died 2004

Both were awarded Nobel Prize 1979
Sir Godfrey Hounsfield
 History of CT
• 1971:
– First clinical scanner
(Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, Wimbelon - London)
– X-ray tube and two detectors
– Scan time 5 min per slice
Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, Wimbeldon - London
• 1972:
– First grey scale image of the brain of al living
patient
• 1973:
– Data acquistion time reduced to 4.5min
– Image resolution 3mm
• 1974:
– First whole body scanner at Georgetown University
Washington
– 2nd generation scanners: 3 detectors
• 1975:
– 30 detectors
– Scan time reduced to 20 sec
• 1979:
– 280-2400 detectors
– Scan time 2 sec
– Image resolution of 0.4mm
• 1987:
– Continuous rotation slip ring technology
– Scan time 1sec.
• 1988:
– Multiplanar and 3D reconstruction
• 1990:
– Helical CT
– Data acquistion by volume
• 1996:
– Egyptology
• 1998:
– Subsecond scanning
• 1999:
– Multi-slice helical scanner
– 0.5sec scan time / slice
– Real-time reconstruction
• 2000:
– PET-CT scanner
– Invention of the year by Time magazine
• 2004:
– 64 multi-slice helical scanner
• 2007:
– Toshiba 320 slice scanner
– Imaging of 16cm length in a single 0.35sec tube
rotation
– Dynamic volume scanning (functional imaging)
 Generations
• Advancements:
– X-ray tube
Scanning
– Detectors motion

– Computer technologies.
 Generations
• First generation (1971)
– Stationary anode, pencil beam
– Two detectors
– Translate – rotate tube/detector motion
– 5 min / slice, 1 min reposition of tube
– 60 min to complete a head study
– 2hrs reconstruction per slice
– Head only
 Generations
• 2nd generation (1974):
– Narrow fan x-ray beam
– 3-52 detector
– Translate-rotate
– Scan time 20 sec
 Generations
• 3rd generation (1975)
– Wide fan beam
– Curved detector array
– 3600 rotation
– Rotate-rotate
– 10sec per slice (abdominal scan 4.5 min)
– Development: slip ring (1987) permitted helical
scan.
 Generations
• 4th generation:
– Rotate-fixed
– Continuously rotating x-ray tube inside a
stationary 3600 ring of detectors
– Scan time 1-2sec / slice
– Slightly higher patient radiation due to the short
geometry configuration.
– High cost, declining market
 Generations
• 5th generation (1982):
– Multiple x-ray tubes and curved fluorescent
screen and multiple television cameras (Dynamic
spatial reconstruction)
– Only for research at Biodynamics Research Unit of
the Mayo Clinic.
– Produces CT images of the heart in a scan time of
10ms.
– Very high cost.
 Generations
• Electron beam CT (EBCT):
– No mechanical motion
– Xray tube is replaced with an electron beam
– Magnetically rotating electron beam that is
accelerated and deflected to strike 4 stationary target
rings arrange in a semicircular arch producing an x-ray
fan beam.
– Double detector array
– Scan time 50ms
– Cardiac imaging
– Considerable higher dose
• Mobile CT: (Philips 1997)
• CT fluoroscopy (Toshiba 1996)
– Interventional
– Patient remains stationary while the scanner
repeatedly scans the same level and produces
images on the monitor at the rate of 6 images per
sec.
PAUSE
 Basic processes of CT Imaging
• Data Acquisition
• Image Reconstruction
• Image Display
• Image Archive
Basic processes
Data Acquisition:
of CT imaging
– X-rays from tube pass through the
Data
patient and are attenuated
Acquisition
↓ depending on the tissue type.
Image
– Detector system located opposite
Reconstruction the x-ray tube measure the
↓
attenuation value of x-ray as analog
Image Display signal (linear attenuation coefficient).
↓
– Analog-digital converter (ADC)
Image Archive
converts the analog into digital
signal
Basic processes of Image reconstruction
CT imaging
– Computer reads the digital data
Data Acquisition
↓
and through a mathematical
formula “reconstruction
Image algorithm” generates the cross-
Reconstruction
↓ sectional image
Image Display
– This involves millions of data
↓ points.
Image Archive
Basic processes of Image display
CT imaging
– The reconstructed image in
Data Acquisition
↓
digital format is converted back
to analog signal by digital-analog
Image
Reconstruction
converter (DAC)
↓ – Which is displayed on monitor
Image Display
↓

Image Archive
Basic processes of Image archive
CT imaging
– Includes image manipulation to
Data Acquisition
↓
best display the examined
anatomy
Image
Reconstruction – Image record:
↓ • on film
Image Display • CD
↓ • PACS

Image Archive