Coronary Stent Imaging with Photon-counting Detector CT

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT offers promising advancements in stent imaging over traditional CT by providing enhanced spatial resolution and spectral capabilities. This article aims to provide an overview of the current literature on coronary stent imaging using PCD CT technology. The high spatial resolution of PCD CT effectively reduces stent blooming artifacts and enhances in-stent visibility and restenosis assessment. To fully leverage the potential of PCD CT, it is crucial to use thin sections and sharp kernels. However, thin sections and sharp kernels increase image noise, potentially affecting qualitative assessment of the lumen. This higher noise could be mitigated by employing higher strengths of iterative reconstruction algorithms. Spectral reconstructions derived from PCD CT can also improve stent assessment using low monoenergetic images that boost the signal of iodinated contrast media within the stent lumen or high monoenergetic images that reduce metal artifacts, beam hardening, and blooming. These advancements of PCD CT offer potential benefits to clinical care by enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of CT technology for assessing metallic stents, potentially diminishing the need for invasive procedures.