NAEOTOM Alpha photon-counting CT scanner, musculoskeletal imaging next to the abstract visualization of a photon-counting detector combined with a clinical image.

Redefine musculoskeletal CT
with NAEOTOM Alpha®
Clear differentiation at lower dose

Conventional CT imaging has limited ability to differentiate between soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, compared to other modalities like MRI. Detecting subtle soft tissue abnormalities or early-stage pathologies can be challenging. And metal implant artifacts that distort the surrounding anatomy make it difficult to accurately assess the area. Additionally, a choice between using comb-filter-based UHR imaging or dual energy capabilities had to be made. Many of these challenges have been overcome with photon-counting CT.

NAEOTOM Alpha with Quantum Technology® achieves twice the spatial resolution1 that delivers enhanced image quality for musculoskeletal CT imaging. Its high image quality, reduced radiation dose, and inherently available spectral information provide radiologists with valuable information that help them in their clinical decisions.

NAEOTOM Alpha with Quantum Technology can generate images for soft tissue imaging with lower doses than conventional CT scanners. In bone imaging, high spatial resolution is important for imaging fractures, bone healing, malignancies, and the visualization of tiny osseous structures. With NAEOTOM Alpha, Quantum HD images and spectral information can be combined. This plays an important role in the diagnosis of acute trauma, detection of fractures, and metal artifact reduction for surgical follow up.
Photon-counting Quantum HD image of a capitellum showing fine details, acquired at Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Courtesy of Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Quantum HD imaging with 0.2 mm slice thickness provides highly-detailed trabecular bone imaging. Recent peer-reviewed papers have shown that “The effective spatial resolution of photon-counting CT in trabecular bone imaging was comparable with that of high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) and more than five times higher compared with conventional CT.”3 

Another paper showed that “Photon-counting CT offers improved image quality for visualization of scaphoid fractures and for healing assessment compared with EID-CT” and “radiologists found primary fracture visibility and overall image quality superior with photon-counting CT.”4

Quantum HD and Quantum Spectral Imaging of an ankle, acquired at University Hospital of North Norway, Tromso
Courtesy of University Hospital of North Norway, Tromso, Norway

Spectral information is always included in scans made with Quantum Technology. This enables image reconstruction with multi-energy post processing, including virtual monoenergetic imaging and bone marrow edema.2 Spectral information can also be combined with 0.2 mm Quantum HD images to further improve image quality without dose penalty. 

Latest review paper from Quintiens et al. states the dose reduction potential while using Quantum HD mode: “When using the UHR mode, comparisons between noise-matched images from UHR-EID-CT and PCCT significantly favour PCCT in terms of SNR and image quality, and this for a reduction in radiation dose ranging between 31% and 49%.5 These advantages are particularly useful in multiple myeloma imaging.6 The impact of photon-counting CT on whole-body imaging in patients with multiple myeloma has demonstrated “significantly better subjective and objective image quality and increased diagnostic confidence at a lower radiation dose (54%) compared to current standard clinical protocols for EID-CT imaging.”7

Photon-counting CT image of a wrist with metal implant, showing metal artifact reduction surrounding the screw, acquired at Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Courtesy of Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Metal artifacts can obscure or mimic pathological findings, leading to potential misdiagnosis or incomplete assessment. Current metal artifact reduction algorithms and dual energy CT imaging still have limitations, such as high electronic noise and limited spatial resolution.

Virtual monoenergetic imaging with NAEOTOM Alpha can be used with the combination of Tin Filter and/or iMAR8 to reduce metal artifacts, increase dose efficiency, and improve visualization of fine bone anatomy around metal implants in the spine, shoulder, or extremities. 

Pallasch et al., from University Medical Center Freiburg has shown that photon-counting CT “allows for effective metal artifact reduction in patients with orthopedic implants, resulting in superior image quality and diagnostic confidence with the potential to improve patient management and clinical decision making.”9

Discover the full potential of NAEOTOM Alpha photon-counting CT.

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