Multirow detector CT technology: Present and future

Abstract

Multirow CT detectors coupled with 2, 4, 8 and 16 or more simultaneous data acquisition channels are now used in clinical imaging. Furthermore, multirow CT detectors are used with conventional or flat-panel image intensifiers mounted on c-arms that allow 3D CT scanning in rotational angiography or orthopedic interventions. These multirow, multichannel CT systems provide increased speed that translates into the ability to scan larger segments of anatomy more quickly. The principal drawback of multislice/multidector/multichannel CT scanners are increased computational burden, faster data rates, more voluminous data sets, and most importantly, the requirement to use cone beam rather than slice-by-slice reconstruction algorithms. The future of multichannel CT in clinical applications demands improved radiation dose efficiency, isotropic imaging, tailored cone beam reconstruction algorithms, and post-processing visualization of volume image data.