Computed

tomography
 Principle
It is a complex application of Law of Tangent,
image quality improves with number of image
forming rays passing tangentially through the
object.

It can be re-constructed from multiple projection

of object.
X-ray projection formed by
scanning a thin cross-section
of the body with narrow x-
ray beam & measuring the
transmitted radiation with
radiation sensitive
detectors.

Detector adds up all the

energy of transmitted
photons and is processed by
computer to form an image
CT consist of high thermal capacity x-ray tube and
generator mounted on rigid circular support called
Gantry, which rotates around the patients.

Detectors are also mounted on the gantry opposite

to x-ray tube.

Images are received as counts.

Large Data acquired is processed by computers to

reveal an image or tomogram
 Generations of CT machines
First generation
Second generation
Third generation
Fourth generation
Spiral CT
Difference in all above generation is speed of scanning
and movements of gantry.

In first two generation there are

1) Linear
&
2) Rotary movements
&
In next two generation there is only one movement i.e
rotary movement.
 Original scanner developed by
Hounsfield.
It had
1) X-ray tube,
2) Pair of detector,
3) Head enclosed in water-bath,
4) Third detector between the x-ray
tube and patient,
5) Rigid gantry maintaining the
relative position of tube &
detectors.
It had linear & rotary movements
X-ray tube used to be on during
linear movement & off during
rotary movements
 First Generation
It had single pencil like x-ray beam with single
detector.
It had both linear & rotary movements
Rotary movements was of 1 degree at end of linear
scan.
Each tomogram required 5 min & total study time
of 25-30 min.
 Second Generation
It had fan like x-ray beam with multiple
detectors, max up to 30 in some machines.
It had both linear & rotary movements
Rotary movements was of 30 degree arc thus
cutting down the scan time
Each tomographic section required 10 to 90 sec.
 Third Generation
This type has only rotation
movements-
Rotate rotate type, with fan
shaped collimated X-ray tube
with multiple (over 700) detectors
loaded on Gantry which moves
completely around the patients.
Fan beam should completely cover
the object
Single image is computed from
1000 images in short time as
less as 1 sec.
 Fourth generation
In this type the detectors form a ring that completely
surrounds the patient and are fixed.
X-ray tube rotates around in circle inside the detector ring
and has fan shaped collimated x-ray beam.
It is rotate-fixed type with patient advancing in gantry.
Scan time is lesser than 1 sec for each section.
Advantage–
Advantage– speed
Disadvantage–
Disadvantage increased amount of scattered radiations
 Types of detectors
Two types
1. Scintillation crystals- Bismuth germanate
crystals coupled with photomultiplier or sodium
iodide crystals, are more efficient and has less
afterglow .
2. Ionization chamber containing xenon gas under
pressure, they have no afterglow but are slightly
less efficient.
 Image Reconstruction
Image is first converted to digital image and then to
conventional gray scale image
Image of the section is broken down in ,
Tiny picture elements called pixels,
pixels
Projection of solid cores of tissues called voxels.
Computer counts the light flashes in solid detectors &
ions in ionization detectors and gives them a CT number
according to there attenuation coefficients
Reconstruction of whole image of the section by
multiple projection is a complex and is done by
computer. One of the method is back-
back-projection.
projection

Contrast can be adjusted by operators

 Spiral CT
Newer method
X-ray tube moves continuously with slip-ring technique,
the outer fixed detector ring and inner rotating x-ray tube
ring having brushes that remain in electrical contact with
the inside of outer ring.
X-ray tube moves continuously with patient moving
cephalad with constant rate producing a spiral or helix
around the patient.
Tube is energized for as much as 30 sec at a time
as compared to conventional which is energized
for 1 sec.
Tube has a very high thermal anode.
Cadmium tungstate is used preferred crystal
photoiodides used.
Reconstruction is by interpolation I.e calculation
of intermediate values in a series.
It has 3 dimensional image constructed
 Advantages of spiral over
conventional CT
Shorter scanning time
Reconstruction along z axis with overlapping of
successive images leading to detection of small
lesions
Fewer motion artifacts
3D reconstruction of image