Cardiac CT, often performed using a helical technique, is used to assess coronary artery disease, cardiac anatomy, and other heart-related conditions.
CT perfusion imaging is used to assess tissue blood flow and perfusion, providing insights into organ function and potential abnormalities.
The CT gantry contains the X-ray tube and detectors and rotates around the patient to acquire projection images from multiple angles.
Streak artifacts appear as dark streaks in a CT image and are commonly caused by dense structures like bones, leading to inaccuracies in image representation.
The mAs setting controls the amount of radiation exposure delivered during a CT scan. It directly influences image noise and quality.
The CT bowtie filter is used to shape the X-ray beam to account for the varying attenuation through the patient's body, resulting in more uniform image quality.
Reconstruction is the mathematical process that converts raw projection data acquired during a CT scan into cross-sectional images for interpretation.
A higher pitch value in helical CT scans results in faster table movement through the gantry, leading to reduced scan times.
CT image post-processing involves applying various techniques to enhance image quality, such as reducing noise, enhancing contrast, and creating 3D reconstructions.
PET-CT combines the anatomical information from CT with the functional and metabolic information provided by PET imaging.
Water is commonly used in CT phantoms to simulate human tissue density and attenuation characteristics.
The CT localizer scan is used to outline the specific region of the body that will be scanned in subsequent imaging, ensuring accurate coverage.
Motion artifacts can occur if the patient moves during a CT scan, particularly in cases of fast scan times.
Contrast bolus tracking involves using a region of interest to monitor the arrival of contrast agent in blood vessels, ensuring optimal image acquisition timing.
Contrast resolution is the ability of a CT scanner to distinguish between objects with similar densities, providing clear visualization of subtle differences.
Windowing involves adjusting the display settings of CT images to optimize the visualization of specific tissue densities and structures.