Feasibility and accuracy of tissue characterization with dual source computed tomography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a model for tissue characterization with dual source computed tomography (DSCT).METHODS AND MATERIALS: A model for tissue characterization in CT was used with a parameterization of linear attenuation coefficients. Sixteen chemical substances with effective atomic numbers between 5.21 and 13.08 and electron densities between 2.20 and 4.12 x10(23) electrons/cm(3) were scanned at energies of 80 and 140 kV on a DSCT. From the reconstructed dual energy data sets, effective atomic numbers and electron densities of the substances were calculated.RESULTS: Our presented model using DSCT approximated the effective atomic numbers and effective electron densities of 16 substances very well. The measured effective atomic numbers deviated 3.4 ± 6.8% (R(2) = 0.994) from theoretical effective atomic numbers. In addition, measured effective electron densities deviated -0.6 ± 2.2% (R(2) = 0.999) from theoretical effective electron densities.CONCLUSION: Effective atomic numbers and effective electron densities can be determined with a high accuracy with DSCT. Therefore the model can be of potential benefit for clinical applications of quantitative tissue characterization with DSCT.