Foreword viii Preface xi Acknowledgments xiv 1 The Invention of the CT Scanner and the Nobel Prize 1 Computed Tomography: A Definition 2 Three Major Stages of CT Imaging 4 Invention of the CT Scanner: The Nobel Prize for Pioneers Godfrey Hounsfield and Alan Cormack 8 Evolution of CT Scanners Leading to Present- Day Multi- Slice CT Imaging 10 References 14 2 Essential Physics of CT 17 Introduction 17 Radiation Attenuation: Essential Physics Related to CT Imaging 18 Attenuation and Hounsfield Units 22 The CT Gray- Scale Image 24 References 25 3 Data Acquisition: Principles and Technology 27 What Is Data Acquisition? 28 Types of Data Acquisition 28 Major Technical Data Acquisition Components 31 Detectors: Types, Principles, and Technology 35 References 41 4 Image Reconstruction Principles 43 Image Reconstruction: A Definition 45 Image Reconstruction Algorithms 45 Artificial Intelligence and Its Subsets: Definitions 52 References 59 5 Multi- Slice CT: Principles and Instrumentation 62 What Is Multi- Slice CT (MSCT)? 63 MSCT System Components 65 Selectable Scan Parameters 71 Advantages of MSCT 73 References 74 6 Image Postprocessing 76 Scope of Image Processing 77 Windowing: Effect on Image Contrast and Image Brightness 79 Multiplanar Image Reformatting 82 Advanced Image Postprocessing Techniques 84 References 88 7 Image Quality 90 What Is Image Quality in Computed Tomography? 90 Spatial Resolution 91 Low- Contrast Resolution 93 Noise 95 Artifacts in a Nutshell 98 References 99 8 CT Radiation Dose Considerations 101 CT Dose Trends 101 The Basics of CT Dosimetry 102 Factors Affecting the Dose in CT 105 Dose Optimization 107 References 109 9 CT Quality Control for Technologists/ Radiographers 114 Quality Assurance/Quality Control: Definitions 115 Essential Steps in QC 116 Tolerance Limits/Acceptance Criteria 117 Equipment for QC Testing 118 Routine QC Tests for the CT Technologist 121 References 124 Index 125.