Discrimination of clinically significant calcium salts using MARS spectral CT

T. E. Kirkbride; A. Raja; K. Mueller; C. J. Bateman; F. Becce; N. Anderson

doi:10.1117/12.2249714

9 March 2017 Discrimination of clinically significant calcium salts using MARS spectral CT

T. E. Kirkbride, A. Raja, K. Mueller, C. J. Bateman, F. Becce, N. Anderson

Proceedings Volume 10132, Medical Imaging 2017: Physics of Medical Imaging; 1013235 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2249714
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2017, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Calcium compounds within tissues are usually a sign of pathology, and calcium crystal type is often a pointer to the diagnosis. There are clinical advantages in being able to determine the quantity and type of calcifications non-invasively in cardiovascular, genitourinary and musculoskeletal disorders, and treatment differs depending on the crystal type and quantity. The problem arises when trying to distinguish between different calcium compounds within the same image due to their similar attenuation properties. There are spectroscopic differences between calcium salts at very low energies. As calcium oxalate and calcium hydroxyapatite can co-exist in breast and musculoskeletal pathologies of the breast, we wished to determine whether Spectral CT could distinguish between them in the same image at clinical X-ray energy ranges. Energy thresholds of 15, 22, 29 and 36keV and tube voltages of 50, 80 and 110kVp were chosen, and images were analysed to determine the percentage difference in the attenuation coefficients of calcium hydroxyapatite samples at concentrations of 54.3, 211.7, 808.5 and 1169.3mg/ml, and calcium oxalate at a concentration of 2000 mg/ml. The two lower concentrations of calcium hydroxyapatite were distinguishable from calcium oxalate at all energies and all tube voltages, whereas the ability to discriminate oxalate from hydroxyapatite at higher concentrations was dependent on the threshold energy but only mildly dependent on the tube voltage used. Spectral CT shows promise for distinguishing clinically important calcium salts.

Citation Download Citation

T. E. Kirkbride, A. Raja, K. Mueller, C. J. Bateman, F. Becce, and N. Anderson "Discrimination of clinically significant calcium salts using MARS spectral CT", Proc. SPIE 10132, Medical Imaging 2017: Physics of Medical Imaging, 1013235 (9 March 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2249714

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available