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SCANNER CONTROL PANEL
Monitor
image display
List of patients exam
Measurement
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When scanning patient rst select patient schedule
Select patient name and exam
Next select protocol icon
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Scan Type
Axial Scan Mode
Data acquisitions each slice / volume is taken and then
the table is incremented to the next location to collect
data over a longer z axis range
Usually use doing biopsy, drain, mylogram
With Inter Scan Delay
Inter Scan Delay = is a small delay between slices or
volumes that is needed druing standard axial scanning
for the x-ray tube to stop and reverse direction. Inter
Scan delay can also be use to allow extra time during a
scan for tube cooling
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Helical / Spiral
Helical scan is a very fast way to examine the target anatomy
The volume is scanned very quickly because the table is in a constant
motion as the gantry rotates continuously
Scan in a single breath hold
Greater accuracy for multiplanar & 3D images
Faster scanning less contrast use
There is no inter scan delay between slices as in an axial acquisition
Cine
This is used in Perfusion applications to evaluation blood ow, blood volume
and mean transit time
Cine is a time sequence of axial images
Uses full rotations while gathering input from the same location over a
period of time
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Cine Brain Perfusion
Start - End =Number of images
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Thick Speed
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Detectors
Multirow detector consists of one detector with rows of detector elements
Recall third and forth generation scanner
Solid State detectors can acquire four slices per 360 degree rotation
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Single Detector vs Multi-row Detector
Single Detector vs Multi-row Detector
Single Detector Array
One detector, 15mm long in z direction
Multiple rows Detector
Larger coverage and faster scan times, high
detail slice images or 3 D volume images, less
radiation dose, less motion artifacts, better
bolus tracking
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Detectors
Collimation
Collimation selection also
depends on the type of tissue
to be examined
Smaller structures usually
require narrow collimation
Larger structures are imaged
with wider collimation
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Scanner Control Panel
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Bow Tie Filter Selection
Scan Field of View (SFOV)
Is the area that is being scanned
There are small, medium, large SFOV depending on the exam
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CT Scan Parameters Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7L-9-fh49s
Affecting Pitch
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Pitch
Pitch
The distance ( in mm) that the CT table moves during one revolution of x-
ray tube
The pitch species the extent to which the x-ray helix is stretched
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kV & mA
kV is usually chosen from 80 kV to 140
There are three option for mA
Manual mA
Auto mA
Smart mA
mA
Manual mA is chosen by tech
Auto mA is an automatic
exposure control system for CT
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mA Table
The mA table reports what the mA will be for scan
each scan rotation based on the factors you have
set on the AutomA control.
These factors are applied to the patient data
gathered for the last scout taken typically AP
mA Tables
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AutomA
AutomA is an automoatic exposure control system use
that employs Z axis tube current modulation
The benet is to maintain a constant photon exposure
for consisten image quality while providing dose resudtin
to the patient
AutomA will use the last scout taken to compute the
require mA. The lowest dose will be computed from an
AP scout. You can use Lateral scout but it will increase
dose.
AutomA changes mA across the z axis
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Position Accuracy
Position Accuracy
Proper patient positioning will help give accurate
dose by positioning the body at isocenter.
The need to increase mA to compensate for the
noise is eliminated
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Smart mA
Auto mA must be selected rst then Smart mA is
available.
Smart mA changes the mA across the x/y axis
within a slice
mA Tables
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Smart mA
Noise & Noise Index
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Total Exposure Time
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ScanTiming
Pre Group: The time set for the scan to
start after pressing the start button on
keyboard
ISD (Inter-Scan Delay): A delay between
exposures
Breath Hold: The amount of time the
patient will be holding their breath during
exposure
Scan Timing
Breath Time: If scan time is longer than
set breath hold a second scan can be set
to follow that allows for a period of
time for the patient to breath before
the next scan begins
Auto Voice: Can be set according to
protocol for Inspiration, Expiration,
Hyperventilation, etc
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Scan Parameters
Image Reconstruction
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Reconstruction Data
Reconstruction data are convolved data that have
been back projected into the image matrix to
create CT image displayed on a monitor
Various digital lters are available to suppress
noise and improve detail
Reconstruction Data
There are three different types of algorithms
Standard
Bone
Detail
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Reconstruction Algorithms
Standard algorithms - provides good contrast resolution
Bone algorithms - helps optimize spatial resolution but produces poor
contrast resolution
Detail algorithms - give adequate contrast resolution with good edge
denition
Algorithm
Standard Detail
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Algorithm
Bone
ASIR
Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction
First software from GE to clean up CT images and in the process allow
dramatic reduction up to 50% in patient radiation dose
It is a Noise reduction edge enhancement algorithm
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ASIR
Understanding the Dose Equation
The decision to adjust scan parameters involves
understadning the method for estimating dose
There are 3 factors that are used to estimate
effective dose
Phantom
CTDI vol = Computer Tomography Dose
Index
DLP = Dose Length Product
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Dose
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Dose
Phantom =The size of phantom is either small
(16cm diameter) or large (32 cm diameter)
depending on the size of the body part. The actual
dose to patient is dependent on body habitus as
compared to that of the reference phantom
DLP = is representative of the total dose delivered
CTDI vol = is the dose index used for CT scanning
to represent the average dose for the area
scanned.
CT Dose and Risks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi0H6eUWyh4
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