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Home > Issues > SearchApplication of Effective Atomic Number for Contrast Agent Imaging using Dual-energy Computed Tomography: A Simulation Study
Journal of Magnetics, Volume 28, Number 4, 31 Dec 2023, Pages 443-448
Kihong Son (Electronic and Telecommunications Research Institute), Seunghyung Lee (Eulji University), Hyobin Lee (Eulji University), Yejin Lee (Eulji University), Dongwook Son (Eulji University), Seunghyeon Myeong (Eulji University), Minjoo Chang (Eulji University), Daehong Kim * 
(Eulji University), Myung-Ae Chung * (Eulji University)
(Eulji University), Myung-Ae Chung * (Eulji University)
Abstract
This simulation study aims to differentiate between contrast media and calcification in blood vessel using the
effective atomic number (EAN) extraction method in electromagnetic X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging.
Calibration was performed on six tissue-equivalent materials, three contrast medium, and one calcium
solution. The Hounsfield unit (HU) values at 80 kV and 140 kV with electromagnetic spectrum using dualenergy
computed tomography (DECT) facilitated this calibration. EAN from the polynomial method was then
compared with that from the Stoichiometric method. In 120 kV vascular imaging, when the HU of calcium and
iodine contrast media were alike, EAN provided a more pronounced contrast than HU. The iodine contrast
agent’s enhancement in EAN was approximately 30.0 %, and in HU, it was 13.0 % relative to calcium. This
indicates EAN’s potential to better differentiate contrast media from calcification in clinical contexts.
effective atomic number (EAN) extraction method in electromagnetic X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging.
Calibration was performed on six tissue-equivalent materials, three contrast medium, and one calcium
solution. The Hounsfield unit (HU) values at 80 kV and 140 kV with electromagnetic spectrum using dualenergy
computed tomography (DECT) facilitated this calibration. EAN from the polynomial method was then
compared with that from the Stoichiometric method. In 120 kV vascular imaging, when the HU of calcium and
iodine contrast media were alike, EAN provided a more pronounced contrast than HU. The iodine contrast
agent’s enhancement in EAN was approximately 30.0 %, and in HU, it was 13.0 % relative to calcium. This
indicates EAN’s potential to better differentiate contrast media from calcification in clinical contexts.
Keywords: electromagnetic X-ray; effective atomic number (EAN); electromagnetic spectrum; polynomial fitting method; dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4283/JMAG.2023.28.4.443
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