Comparison of Imaging Quality Between Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT) and Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT)

"For the dual-layer spectral CT scanner (IQon®, Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), the following parameters will be used for the acquisition:~* Tube potential 120 kVp;~* Tube current time product of 150 mAs;~* Gantry revolution time 0.33 s;~* Automatic exposure control (angular and longitudinal) combined xyz-axis;~* Beam collimation geometry 64 x 0.625 mm - scan field-of-view - 22 cm;"

"The SPCCT scanner is a prototype spectral photon-counting computed tomography system derived from a modified clinical CT system with a field-of-view (FOV) of 168 mm in-plane, and a z-coverage of 20 mm. It is equipped with energy-sensitive photon-counting detectors relying on the direct conversion high band gap semiconductor of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT). The electronics comprises 5 rate counters with 5 different configurable energy thresholds. The SPCCT scanner has the following parameters:~* Base platform : iCT scanner~* Tube Voltage (kVp) : 120, capability for imaging at 80 and 100 kVp~* Tube current (mA) : 10 - 300~* Spatial Resolution : \> 30 lp/cm, ≤ 250 µm~* Z-coverage isocenter (mm) : 20 mm~* FOV (mm) : 500~* Minimum rotation time : 0.33 s/rotation~* Acquisition modes : Axial, Helical, Step \& Shoot"