Density resolution the accuracy of CT numbers) is generally recognized by radiologists w'ao interpret Children's, CT to be very poor. A CT scanning phantom was made. in order to document the brain attenuation inaccuracies which do occur and also to derive normal brain attenuation values for varying sized heads, given. the skull diameters and thicknesses. In scanning' this phantom, other factors, some of equal importance, to small head size, were found to affect the Hounsfield numbers of brain. The phantom was scanned in order to determine the magnitude of these specific factors, using the GE 8800 model scanner. After head size (412 to 25, H), the variables of the head support (up to 15 H) and centering within the field of view (6-23 H) were of similar importance, for small heads. Kilovoltage, software, and machine drift were less, important, although only kVp settings, of 105 and 120 were employed. Manufacturers may improve CT number accuracy if they recognize the relative, magnitude of the various factors which alter measured attenuation.

Date Published: 29 December 1982
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 0347, Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine X, (29 December 1982); doi: 10.1117/12.933826

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0347:
Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine X
Gary D. Fullerton; James A. Mulvaney; Arthur G. Haus; William S. Properzio, Editor(s)