Computed

Tomography

Maajid Mohi Ud Din Malik

Msc Radiology
Computed Tomography
The ct x -ray tube produces x-ray in same way as a
conventional x-ray tube does.X-ray quanta depends on tube
voltage (kV) and the product of tube current (MAS).The x-
ray released includes a spectrum of short wave length high
energy beam called ' Hard x-ray' and longer wave length low
energy beam called 'Soft x-ray' radiation. The higher the
tube voltage (kV) the harder is the radiation. Intensity of the
radiation is directly proportional to the tube current (MA's).
Continued............................

when passing through an unaltered, deflected or

absorbed fully/partially and get attenuated. The amount
of attenuation depends on the thickness of the
material(tissue) of the object.The thicker the tissue, the

greater is the attenuation.

Common Names Of CT
 Computerized axial transverse scanning.
Computerized axial tomography.
X-ray computed tomography.
Competed/computerized tomography
Now the computed tomography is commonly
used.
History Of CT
 In 1917-Radon developed the basic mathematics
equation.
 In 1920- developed the method to image a specific
section of the radiography.
 In 1935- Grossman refined the technique and
labelled it as tomography.
 In 1937- Watson developed another tomography
techniques and this is known as transverse axial
tomography.
 In 1940- Frank and Takahashi published the basic
principle of axial ct.
 In 1956- Cormach developed theory of imaging
reconstruction.
 In 1971- Honsfield developed the clinically useful
ct scanner.
 In 1974- the first clinical brain scanner, was
done.The first ct took serval hours to acquire the
raw data for a single slice and overnight for
reconstruction.
 In 1979- Dynamic spatial reconstructor (D S R ) was
installed in the bio- dynamic unit at the myo-clinic .
 In 1980- A high speed ct scanner beam was
introduced that used electron beam technology by
Dr Doubles( University of California).
 Electron beam technology was used to image the
cardiovascular system to overcome motion artifacts
problem.This scanner is known as EBCT.
 In 1992- A dual slice spiral/helical ct scanner was
introduced.
 In 1998- A MSCT was introduced at the radiological
society of north america (RSNA) in chacgo.
Msct are based on the use of multi-detectors
technology to scan more slice per rotation.
 In 2000- 8-16 and32-64 slice ct scan was
introduced.
 In 2004- 64 slice ct scanner was introduced.
 In 2006- Dual source ct scanner was introduced - 2
x-ray tubes coupled to 2 detectors arrays.
 In 2006-2007- 256 slice was introduced, 320 slice
ct was introduced.
EMI- Electrical and Musical
Industry
 The original EMI scanner was designed specifically
for evaluation of brain.
 In this unit head was enclosed in a water bath
between the x-ray tube above and a pair of
detectors below.
 The x-ray beam was collimated to the exact size of
the two side by side detector.
 The patient remained in one position throughout
the scan.
 The gantry moved through two different types of motion,
one linear and other rotary.
 The linear motion was repeated over and over 180
times.Between each of these 180° linear movement's. The
gantry rotated 1° degree, thus the total rotary motion
encompassed a 180° degree semi circle.
 The axial of rotation passed through the center of the
patient head.
 The film is placed in a center in a tray under the x-ray table
so that it is free to move without disturbing the patient.
The fulcrum is the only point in the system that remains
stationary.
 The amplitude of tube travel is measured in
degrees , and is called the tomographic angle ( arc).
 The plane of the interest within the patient is
positioned at the level of the fulcrum.
 All points above and below this plane are blurred.
Generations Of CT
First generation ct( Rotate,translate pencil beam)
First generation ct scanner used rotated translate
motion.
The x-ray tube was mechanically coupled to the
detector.
The original EMI unit was the first generation
scanner.
Only two detector were used which measured
transmission of x-ray through the patient for two
different slice.
It was designed specifically for evaluation of brain.
After one translation the tube and detector rotates by 1
degree and translate again to reading from a different
direction.
This is repeated for 180° for patient.
This method of scanning is referred to as rectilinear
pencil beam scanning.
Fine 4.55-5.55min for 1 slice
Image reconstruction algorithm for first generation was
based on the parallel beam geometry.
Advantage.......
 Pencil beam allow efficient scatter rejection.
Disadvantage......

For ten slices the total clinical Scan time was

approximately 22-25 min.
The NaI detector system used in this generation.
The sodium iodide detector had a significant
amount of after glow.
NaI is hygroscopic
Complex mechanical motion of translate-rotate.
Poor spatial resolution.
Second generation ct (rotate/translate, narrow fan beam):
It was also based on translated rotate type.
These units was incorporated with a linear array of 3
detector's.
The movement of x-ray tube detector array are both linear
and rotary like first generation scanner.
The use of 3 detector's increased the utilization of the x-ray
beam by 3 times over the single detector used per slice in
first generation.
Narrow fan beam angle of 10 degree.
Advantage.....
Increased number of detector.
Reduced scan time to 10 sec.
Instead of moving 1 degree at the end of each linear scan
gantry can be rotate at 30 degree.
Disadvantage........
NaI crystal used.
Increased scatter radiation as compared to first generation.
Complex mechanism motion of translate rotate.
Third generation (rotate/rotate wide fan beam):
Third generation ct scanner were based on a fan beam
geometry that rotates continuously around the patient
for 360 degree.
The x-ray tube is coupled to a curved detector array
that subtends an arc of 30 to 40 degree or greater
from the apex of the fan.
As the x-ray tube and detector rotates projection
profiles are collected and a view is obtained for every
field point of the tube and detector.
Advantage....
Multiple detector in a linear detector array capture same
number of measurement.
Xenon detector was used which is highly directional and
efficiently rejects scatter radiation.
Patient dose less.
Disadvantage......
Occasional appearance of ring artifacts.
Expensive than others.
Complex electronic circuitry.
More scatter radiation.
Fourth generation ct scanner (rotate/stationary)
In this scanner uses rotate only motion.
Huge tube rotated but the detector assembly does not.
The detector form a ring that completely surround the
patient.
The x-ray tube rotates in a circle inside the detector
ring and x-ray beam was collimated to form a fan beam.
Advantage......
Fourth generation design eliminate ring artifacts.
As are fixed signal wire connected to detector
remains fixed and therefore no fear of cable wire .
Disadvantage......
Equipment cost is higher than other.
More scatter radiation.
High patient dose.
Fifth generation.......
Fifth generation scanner are classified as high
speed ct scanner because they can acquire scan
data in milliseconds.
Their are two such scanner.....
Electron beam ct scanner (EBCT).
dynamic spatial reconstruction (DSR).
In the EBCT scanner the data acquisition geometry
is a fan beam of x-ray produced by a beam of
electrons that scan several stationary tungsten
target rings.
The fan beam passes through the patient and the x-
ray transmission reading are collected for image
reconstruction.
The DRS scanner was labelled a high speed ct
scanner capable of producing dynamic 3-D image of
volume of the patient.
The overall goal of EBCT scanner is to produce high
resolution images of moving organs that are free of
artifacts caused by motion.
Advantage......
It produces high resolution images.
It was electron beam instead of x-ray tube
It's design enables it to acquire ct data 10 times
faster than convention ct scanner
Disadvantage.......
Costely equipment.
Complicated electronic.
Sixth generation ( the dual sources ct scanner):
Dual source ct scanner (DSCT).
Dual x-ray tubes.
Both tubes coupled to two separate detector.
Tubes offset by 90° angle.
Gantry rotation time is 0.03 milliseconds.
Provides spatial resolution and temporal resolution in
cardiac scanning.
Advantage.......
Dual energy application - one tube at 40 kV other at 140
kV .
Faster cardiac acquisition with in shorter breath hold.
Ability to scan arrhythmia patients.
Disadvantage......
High radiation dose.
Data overload.
Higher cost.
Seventh generation (Flat- panel ct scanner)
Multi slice scanning is the basis for this generation.
Still in the prototype development and are not
available for clinical imaging.
Flat-panel digital detectors ( as in digital radiography
Cesium iodide) caesium iodide (CSI) amorphous silicon
(SF) thin film transistor (TFT).
Coupled x-ray tube and detectors.
Multi row detectors- to increase volume coverage.
Excellent spatial resolution.
Used for breast imaging.
Advantage......
Double temporal resolution.
Longer scan range(200 cm).
Better Z- axis resolution(< 0.4 mm).
Less patient dose.
Disadvantage......
Higher radiation dose.
Complex electronic.
Lack good contrast.
THE END