%0 Journal Article
%T Gold as a Potential Contrast Agent for Dual-Energy CT
%A Radko Krissak
%A Martin Elgert
%A Bj£¿rn Kusch
%A Ralph H¨¹nerbein
%J Advances in Molecular Imaging
%P 37-42
%@ 2161-6752
%D 2013
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ami.2013.34006
%X <p class=\"MsoNormal\">
	<b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Purpose:</span></b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span></b><span lang=\"EN-US\">The K-edge of gold (81 keV) is located
within the energy range of diagnostic CT. This might be advanta</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">geous
for material differentiation in dual-energy CT (DECT). The aim of this<i> in vitro</i> study was to compare the differ</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">entiation
between iodine or gold and body tissues using DECT at different kV spectra.</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Methods and Materials:</span></b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span></b><span lang=\"EN-US\">A wa</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">ter filled tank phantom containing specimens with iodine
(iopamidol), gold (sodium aurothiomalate), compact bone (compact porcine bone)
and porcine muscle was scanned using a dual source CT (Definition, Siemens
Healthcare). Consecutive scans were performed at 80 kVp, 100 kVp, 120 kVp and
140 kVp with constant mAs settings. The mean attenuation values of the
specimens were measured, and differences in calculated dual-energy ratios (DE<sub>ratio</sub>)
between body tissues and iodine or gold were determined for different DE
spectra. <b>Results:</b></span><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span></b><span lang=\"EN-US\">The attenuation of gold increased compared
to 80 kVp at higher kVp-settings, while the attenuation of all other specimens
decreased. The calculated DE<sub>ratios</sub> at 80/100 kVp, 80/120 kVp and
80/140 kVp were 1.31, 1.62 and 1.91 for iodine, 0.89, 0.88 and 0.92 for gold,
1.20, 1.39 and 1.45 for compact bone, 1.01, 1.03 and 1.08 for muscle. The
difference</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">s</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> between the DE<sub>ratios</sub> 80/100 kVp, 80/120 kVp and 80/140
kVp were 0.11, 0.23 and 0.46 for iodine and bone, 0.31, 0.51 and 0.53 for gold
and bone, 0.29, 0.59 and 0.83 for iodine and muscle, 0.12, 0.15 and 0.16 for
gold and muscle.</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><b><span lang=\"EN-US\">Conclusion:</span></b><b><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span></b><span lang=\"EN-US\">DE<sub>ratio</sub> of gold remains rela</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">tively
stable along the energy spectrum of diagnostic CT and allows a reliable
material differentiation between gold and bone already at contiguous low tube
voltage settings (80 kV and 100 kV). Thus, gold might have a potential as a con</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">trast
agent for DECT.</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><o:p></o:p></span>
</p>
%K Gold
%K Computed Tomography
%K Dual-Energy
%K Contrast Agent
%K K-Edge
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=37798