Photon-Counting Detector CT Virtual Monoengergetic Images for Cochlear Implant Visualization—A Head to Head Comparison to Energy-Integrating Detector CT
Stephan Waldeck,
Daniel Overhoff,
Leona Alizadeh,
Benjamin V. Becker,
Matthias Port,
Matthias F. Froelich,
Marc A. Brockmann,
Sven Schumann,
Thomas J. Vogl,
Stefan O. Schoenberg,
Sandra Schmidt
Affiliations
Stephan Waldeck
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, Rübenacher Straße 170, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
Daniel Overhoff
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, Rübenacher Straße 170, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
Leona Alizadeh
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, Rübenacher Straße 170, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
Benjamin V. Becker
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, Rübenacher Straße 170, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
Matthias Port
Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 München, Germany
Matthias F. Froelich
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Marc A. Brockmann
Institute of Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Sven Schumann
Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Thomas J. Vogl
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Stefan O. Schoenberg
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Sandra Schmidt
Department of ENT Surgery, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, Rübenacher Straße 170, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
Cochlear implants (CIs) are the primary treatment method in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss. Interpretation of postoperative imaging with conventional energy-integrating detector computed tomography (EID-CT) following CI surgery remains challenging due to metal artifacts. Still, the photon-counting detector (PCD-CT) is a new emerging technology with the potential to eliminate these problems. This study evaluated the performance of virtual monoenergetic (VME) EID-CT images versus PCD-CT in CI imaging. In this cadaveric study, two temporal bone specimens with implanted CIs were scanned with EID-CT and PCD-CT. The images were assessed according to the visibility of interelectrode wire, size of electrode contact, and diameter of halo artifacts. The visibility of interelectrode wire sections was significantly higher when reviewing PCD-CT images. The difference in diameter measurements for electrode contacts between the two CT scanner modalities showed that the PCD-CT technology generally led to significantly larger diameter readings. The larger measurements were closer to the manufacturer’s specifications for the CI electrode. The size of halo artifacts surrounding the electrode contacts did not differ significantly between the two imaging modalities. PCT-CT imaging is a promising technology for CI imaging with improved spatial resolution and better visibility of small structures than conventional EID-CT.
