CT Physics Terms I

Basic Principles of CT and Data Acquisition

Question Answer
Ability of a system to resolve, as separate forms, small
objects that are very close together. Also called high- spatial resolution
contrast resolution or detail resolution
Ability of the system to differentiate between objects with
similar densities. Also called contrast resolution or contrast low-contrast resolution
detectability.
How rapidly data are acquired. It is controlled by gantry
rotation speed, the number of detector channels in the
temporal resolution
system, and the speed with which the system can record
changing signals.
Plane that correlates to the slice thickness, or depth, of the
z-axis
CT slice
Mechanical hardware that resembles small shutters and
collimators
adjusts the opening based on the operator's selection
Picture element. Two-dimensional square of data. When
arranged in rows and columns, they make up the image pixel
matrix.
Volume element. Three-dimensional cube of data acquired
voxel
in CT
Grid formed from the rows and columns of pixels matrix
Phenomenon by which an x-ray beam passing through a
structure is decreased in intensity or amount because of
absorption and interaction with matter. The alteration in the beam attenuation
beam varies with the density of the structure it passes
through
An x-ray beam that is nearly unimpeded by an object;
low attenuation
typically shown as dark gray or black on an image
An x-ray beam is greatly impeded by an object; typically
high attenuation
shown as light gray or white on an image
Amount of x-ray beam that is scattered or absorbed per unit linear attenuation
thickness of the absorber coefficient
Contrast agents that are of a higher density than the
positive contrast agent
structure being imaged. Most contain barium or iodine
A contrast agent that is of a lower density than the
negative contrast agent
surrounding structure, such as air or carbon dioxide
Measure of the beam attenuation capability of a specific
structure. Also called pixel values, density numbers, or CT Hounsfield units
numbers
An x-ray beam that is composed of photons with varying polychromatic x-ray
energies energy
Artifacts that result from lower-energy photons being
preferentially absorbed, leaving higher-intensity photons to beam-hardening artifacts
strike the detector array
Artifact that results from beam hardening. It appears on the
image as a vague area of increased density in a somewhat
cupping artifacts
concentric shape around the periphery of an image, similar
to the shape of a cup
Process by which different tissue attenuation values are
volume averaging;
averaged to produce one less accurate pixel reading. Also
partial volume effect
referred to as _____
All measurements obtained from the detector array and
sitting in the computer waiting to be made into an image. raw data and scan data
Also called _____
Use of raw data to create an image image reconstruction
Image reconstruction that is automatically produced during prospective
scanning reconstruction
Process of using the same raw data to later generate a new retrospective
image reconstruction
Scan method in which the CT table moves to the desired
location and remains stationary while the x-ray tube rotates
within the gantry, collecting data; the images will appear step-and-shoot scanning
perpendicular to z axis and parallel to every other slice;
AKA axial scanning
Scanning method that includes a continually rotating x-ray spiral scanning; helical,
tube, constant x-ray output, and uninterrupted table volumetric, or
movement. Also called ____, ____, or ____ continuous acquisition
scanning
Scanner design in which there are many parallel rows of multidetector row CT
detectors. A single rotation can produce multiple slices scanning
Energy of motion kinetic energy
Ring-shaped part of the CT scanner that houses many of the
gantry
components necessary to produce and detect x-rays
X-ray tube design includes a cathode, which emits
anode
electrons, and an anode, which collects electron
Area of the anode where the electrons strike and the x-ray
focal spot
beam is produced
Measured in thousandths of an ampere, or mA, it controls
tube current
the quantity of electrons propelled from cathode to anode
Ability of the tube to withstand the heat heat capacity
Ability of the tube to rid itself of heat heat dissipation
Measures the number of photons that strikes the detector,
converts the information to a digital signal, and sends the data acquisition system
signal to the computer
A complete set of ray sums view
Component that interprets computer program instructions
and sequences tasks. It contains the microprocessor, the central processing unit
control unit, and the primary memory
CT component that assigns a group of Hounsfield units to
display processor
each shade of gray
Number of photons absorbed by the detector; dependent on
the physical properties of the detector face (e.g., thickness, absorption efficiency
material)
analog-to-digital
Converts the analog signal to a digital format
converter
A brief, persistent flash of scintillation that must be taken
afterglow
into account and subtracted before image reconstruction
Used as a reference point when planning the scout image anatomic landmark
Mechanical filter that removes soft, or low-energy, x-ray
beams, minimizing patient exposure and providing a more bow tie filters
uniform beam intensity
Ability with which the detector obtains photons that have
capture efficiency
passed through the patient
Filters the x-ray beam to reduce the radiation dose to the
patient; help to minimize image artifact and improve image compensating filters
quality
Cooling mechanisms included in the gantry, such as
blowers, filters, or devices that perform oil-to-air heat cooling systems
exchange
Element in a CT system that collects attenuation
information. It measures the intensity of the transmitted x-
detector
ray radiation along a beam projected from the x-ray source
to that particular detector element
Size of the detector opening detector aperture
Entire collection of detectors included in a CT system;
detector array
detector elements are situated in an arc or a ring
Ability of the detector to capture transmitted photons and
detector efficiency
change them into electronic signals
Measured from the middle of one detector to the middle of
detector spacing
the neighboring detector; accounts for the spacing bar
Ratio of the maximum signal measured to the minimum
signal the detectors can measure. The range of x-ray dynamic range
intensity values to which the scanner can accurately respond
This system uses a large electron gun as its x-ray beam
source. A massive anode target is placed in a semicircular
ring around the patient. Neither the x-ray beam source nor electron beam imaging
the detectors move, and the scan can be acquired in a short
time
Scanner configuration that uses a detector array that is fixed
in a 360 degree circle within the gantry. Sometimes referred fourth-generation design
to as rotate-only scanners
Opening in the gantry; range of aperture size is typically 70
gantry aperture
to 90 cm
 high-frequency
Produces high voltage and transmit it to the x-ray tube
generators
Listed in kilowatts (kW); determines the range of exposure
power capacity
techniques available on a particular system
Shape the beam and are located below the patient and above
predetector collimators
the detector array
Limit the x-ray beam before it passes through the patient prepatient collimators
Included in the detector array and help to calibrate data and
reference detectors
reduce artifacts
Time required for the signal from the detector to return to
zero after stimulation of the detector by x-ray radiation so response time
that it is ready to detect another x-ray event
Occur with third-generation scanners and appear on the
image as a ring or concentric rings centered on the
ring artifacts
rotational axis. They are caused by imperfect detector
elements—either faulty or simply out of calibration
Number of samples taken per second from the continuous
sampling rate
signal emitted from the detector
Degree to which a table can move horizontally. Determines
scannable range
the extent a patient can be scanned without repositioning
Electromechanical devices that use a brushlike apparatus to
provide continuous electrical power & electronic
communication across a rotating surface, permitting gantry slip rings
frame to rotate continuously, eliminating the need to
straighten twisted system cables
Process of moving the table by a specified measure. Also
table incrementation
referred to as feed, step, or index
When the table position is manually set at zero by the
table referencing
technologist
Scanner configuration that consists of a detector array and
an x-ray tube that produces a fan-shaped beam that covers
third-generation design
the entire field of view and a detector array. Sometimes
referred to as rotate-rotate scanners
Digital image acquisitions that are created while the tube is
localizer scans
stationary and the table moves through the scan field.
Referred to by various names, depending n the
manufacturer, such as scout, topogram, scanogram, and
pilot
Scan method where the CT table moves to desired location
& remains stationary while the xray tube rotates w/in the
axial scanning; AKA
gantry, collecting data; scans produced w/ this method
step-and-shoot scanning
result in images that are perpendicular to the z axis &
parallel to every other slice
The practice of grouping more than one scan in a single
clustered scans
breath-hold
Method of acquiring slices in which one slice abuts the next contiguous
The radiation emitted from the collimated x-ray source in
fan beam
single-detector row CT systems
The radiation emitted from the collimated x-ray source in
cone beam
multidetector row CT systems
Scanning method that includes a continually rotating x-ray
tube, constant x-ray output, and uninterrupted table continuous acquisition
movement. Also called helical, spiral, or volumetric scanning
scanning
Image noise resulting from the scattering of x-ray photons
crosstalk
by adjacent detectors
Table movement per rotation divided by beam width beam pitch
Table movement per rotation time divided by the selected
detector pitch
slice thickness of the detector
CT design that uses two sets of x-ray tubes and two
dual source
corresponding detector arrays in a single CT gantry
Detector rows that have variable widths and sizes. Also
adaptive array
called nonuniform or hybrid arrays
Detector rows that have variable widths and sizes. Also
hybrid array
called adaptive or nonuniform arrays
Complex statistical methods to, in effect, take the slant and
helical interpolation
blur out of the helical image and create images that closely
methods
resemble those acquired in a traditional axial mode
Relation to table speed to slice thickness. It is most pitch
commonly defined as the travel distance of the CT scan
table per 360 degree rotation of the x-ray tube, divided by
the x-ray beam collimation width
When the slice thickness displayed on the image is wider
slice thickness blooming
than that selected by the operator
Thickness of the slice that’s actually represented on the CT slice-sensitive profile;
image, as opposed to the size selected by the collimator AKA effective slice
opening. thickness
Detector rows that are parallel and of equal size uniform array
Early systems, which contained only a single row of
single-detector row CT
detectors in the z axis, obtained data for one slice with each
(SDCT)
rotation
Scanner design in which there are many parallel rows of multidetector row CT
detectors. A single rotation can produce multiple slices (MDCT)
A technique of interpolating helical scan data for SDCT
180Ll
systems using 180 degree linear interpolation
A technique of interpolating helical scan data for SDCT
360Ll
systems using the 360 degree linear interpolation
Occurs when a patient breathes differently with each data
acquisition. The difference in breathing places the 2nd
group of scans in an incorrect anatomic position relative to slice misregistration
the 1st set of slices. Valuable information may be missed
b/c of this effect