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Neue Kontrastmittel für die photonenzählende Computertomographie

New contrast agents for photon-counting computed tomography

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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Einführung energieselektiver photonenzählender Detektoren in die klinische Praxis stellt den nächsten Meilenstein der Computertomographie (CT) dar. Neben deutlich höherer Auflösung erlauben diese Detektoren die implizite Akquisition von Dual- bzw. Mehrspektren-Daten in nur einer Messung durch die Verwendung von typischerweise frei wählbaren Schwellwerten. Diese Fähigkeit entfachte das Interesse an neuen Kontrastmitteln auf Basis schwerer Elemente, sog. High-Z-Elementen, für die klinische CT neu.

Fragestellung

Im vorliegenden Artikel soll die potenzielle Eignung verschiedener chemischer Elemente als Kontrastmittel untersucht und mögliche klinische Anwendungen, beispielsweise die K‑Kanten-Bildgebung oder die simultane Applikation verschiedener Kontrastmittel, besprochen werden.

Diskussion

Erste präklinische Experimente sowie Versuche in Großtieren konnten potenzielle Vorteile von Kontrastmitteln auf Basis schwerer Elemente demonstrieren. So versprechen entsprechende Kontrastmittel beispielsweise eine deutliche Steigerung des Bildkontrasts gegenüber herkömmlichen jodbasierten Kontrastmitteln.

Abstract

Background

The introduction of energy-selective photon-counting detectors into clinical practice represents the next milestone in computed tomography (CT). In addition to significantly higher resolution, these detectors allow the implicit acquisition of dual or multispectral data in a single measurement through the use of typically freely selectable thresholds. This capability reignited the interest in new contrast agents based on heavy elements, so-called high‑z elements, for clinical CT.

Objective

The present article aims to investigate the potential suitability of different chemical elements as contrast agents and to discuss possible clinical applications, for example, K‑edge imaging or simultaneous application of different contrast agents.

Conclusion

First preclinical experiments as well as experiments in large animals could demonstrate potential advantages of contrast agents based on heavy elements. For example, such contrast agents promise a significant increase in image contrast compared to conventional iodine-based agents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Röntgenbildgebung und CT (E025), Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Deutschland

    Stefan Sawall

  2. Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland

    Stefan Sawall

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Correspondence to Stefan Sawall.

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Für diesen Beitrag wurden von den Autor/-innen keine Studien an Menschen oder Tieren durchgeführt. Für die aufgeführten Studien gelten die jeweils dort angegebenen ethischen Richtlinien.

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Sawall, S. Neue Kontrastmittel für die photonenzählende Computertomographie. Radiologie 63, 507–512 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00117-023-01135-6

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