Zurich – Researchers at Balgrist University Hospital and the Balgrist Campus have tested an innovative technique for imaging bone healing. It is based on the use of tin filters and monoenergetic image reconstruction. Interference from metal implants is reduced.
The use of a tin filter and monoenergetically reconstructed image data can significantly reduce image interference caused by metal implants, so-called metal implant artifacts, explains Balgrist University Hospital in a press release. Its Head of Radiology, Reto Sutter, led a corresponding study, which was conducted by Adrian Marth, radiologist at the Swiss Center for Musculoskeletal Imaging at the Balgrist Campus. The clinical benefit of the combination of filter and monoenergetic image reconstruction in examinations on a photon counting detector CT system was investigated in 48 patients with metal implants in the feet or lower leg. With a tested spectrum of energy values between 60 and 190 kilo-electron volts (keV), energy values of 120 keV proved to be the most suitable, writes Balgrist University Hospital.
"To my knowledge, this is the first scientific study worldwide to show that the higher spatial resolution of photon counting CT also has a clinical effect in the assessment of bone healing in patients," Sutter is quoted as saying in the press release. "The significant reduction of metal implant artifacts thanks to the tin filter and monoenergetic image reconstruction and thus an overall higher image quality can improve the visualization of bone healing." At Balgrist University Hospital, the healing process of patients with metal implants can thus be better assessed. ce/hs