TY  - JOUR
A1  - Patzer, Theresa Sophie
A1  - Kunz, Andreas Steven
A1  - Huflage, Henner
A1  - Conrads, Nora
A1  - Luetkens, Karsten Sebastian
A1  - Pannenbecker, Pauline
A1  - Paul, Mila Marie
A1  - Ergün, Süleyman
A1  - Bley, Thorsten Alexander
A1  - Grunz, Jan-Peter
T1  - Ultrahigh-resolution photon-counting CT in cadaveric fracture models: spatial frequency is not everything
JF  - Diagnostics
N2  - In this study, the impact of reconstruction sharpness on the visualization of the appendicular skeleton in ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector (PCD) CT was investigated. Sixteen cadaveric extremities (eight fractured) were examined with a standardized 120 kVp scan protocol (CTDI\(_{vol}\) 10 mGy). Images were reconstructed with the sharpest non-UHR kernel (Br76) and all available UHR kernels (Br80 to Br96). Seven radiologists evaluated image quality and fracture assessability. Interrater agreement was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient. For quantitative comparisons, signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs) were calculated. Subjective image quality was best for Br84 (median 1, interquartile range 1–3; p ≤ 0.003). Regarding fracture assessability, no significant difference was ascertained between Br76, Br80 and Br84 (p > 0.999), with inferior ratings for all sharper kernels (p < 0.001). Interrater agreement for image quality (0.795, 0.732–0.848; p < 0.001) and fracture assessability (0.880; 0.842–0.911; p < 0.001) was good. SNR was highest for Br76 (3.4, 3.0–3.9) with no significant difference to Br80 and Br84 (p > 0.999). Br76 and Br80 produced higher SNRs than all kernels sharper than Br84 (p ≤ 0.026). In conclusion, PCD-CT reconstructions with a moderate UHR kernel offer superior image quality for visualizing the appendicular skeleton. Fracture assessability benefits from sharp non-UHR and moderate UHR kernels, while ultra-sharp reconstructions incur augmented image noise.
KW  - photon-counting
KW  - tomography
KW  - X-ray computed
KW  - fracture
KW  - cancellous bone
KW  - convolution kernel
Y1  - 2023
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319281
SN  - 2075-4418
VL  - 13
IS  - 10
ER  -