Technical Note: Quantitative accuracy evaluation for spectral images from a detector-based spectral CT scanner using an iodine phantom

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of spectral images from a detector-based spectral CT scanner using a phantom with iodine-loaded inserts. Methods: A 40-cm long-body phantom with seven iodine inserts (2–20 mg/ml of iodine) was used in the study. The inserts could be placed at 5.5 or 10.5 cm from the phantom axis. The phantom was scanned five times for each insert configuration using 120 kVp tube voltage. A set of iodine, virtual noncontrast, effective atomic number, and virtual monoenergetic spectral CT images were generated and measurements were made for all the iodine rods. Measured values were compared with reference values calculated from the chemical composition information provided by the phantom manufacturer. Radiation dose from the spectral CT was compared to a conventional CT using a CTDI (32 cm) phantom. Results: Good agreement between measurements and reference values was achieved for all types of spectral images. The differences ranged from −0.46 to 0.1 mg/ml for iodine concentration, −9.95 to 6.41 HU for virtual noncontrast images, 0.12 to 0.35 for effective Z images, and −17.7 to 55.7 HU for virtual monoenergetic images. For a similar CTDIvol, image noise from the conventional CT was 10% lower than the spectral CT. Conclusions: The detector-based spectral CT can achieve accurate spectral measurements on iodine concentration, virtual non-contrast images, effective atomic numbers, and virtual monoenergetic images.