Differentiation of Crystals Associated With Arthropathies by Spectral Photon-Counting Radiography A Proof-of-Concept Study

Objectives The aims of this study were to test whether spectral photon-counting radiography (SPCR) is able to identify and distinguish different crystals associated with arthropathies in vitro and to validate findings in a gouty human third toe ex vivo. Materials and Methods Industry-standard calibration rods of calcium pyrophosphate, calcium hydroxyapatite (HA), and monosodium urate (MSU) were scanned with SPCR in an experimental setup. Each material was available at 3 different concentrations, and a dedicated photon-counting detector was used for SPCR, whereas validation scans were obtained on a clinical dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scanner. Regions of interest were placed on SPCR images and consecutive DECT images to measure x-ray attenuation characteristics, including effective atomic numbers (Z(eff)). Statistical tests were performed for differentiation of Z(eff) between concentrations, materials, and imaging modalities. In addition, a third toe from a patient with chronic gouty arthritis was scanned with SPCR and DECT for differentiation of MSU from HA. Results In both SPCR and DECT, significant differences in attenuation and Z(eff) values were found for different concentrations among (P < 0.001) and between different materials (P < 0.001). Overall, quantitative measurements of Z(eff) did not differ significantly between SPCR- and DECT-derived measurements (P = 0.054-0.412). In the human cadaver toe, gouty bone erosions were visible on standard grayscale radiographic images; however, spectral image decomposition revealed the nature and extent of MSU deposits and was able to separate it from bone HA by Z(eff). Conclusions Identification and differentiation of different crystals related to arthropathies are possible with SPCR at comparable diagnostic accuracy to DECT. Further research is needed to assess diagnostic accuracy and clinical usability in vivo.

Automated summary

The study aimed to test the capability of spectral photon-counting radiography (SPCR) in identifying and distinguishing different crystals associated with arthropathies, and validated the findings in a gouty human toe ex vivo. Significant differences in attenuation and Z(eff) values were found for different concentrations and materials in both SPCR and DECT. SPCR is able to identify and differentiate various crystals related to arthropathies with comparable diagnostic accuracy to DECT.