Degradation of the z- resolution due to a longitudinal motion with a 64-channel CT scanner

Isotropic acquisitions are routinely achievable with 64- channel CT scanners. As it predecessors, it includes multiplanar reformation (MPR) projection for the reconstruction of two-dimensional images and volume rendering for the creation of three dimensional images. The accuracy of images obtained with these postprocessing methods depends on the spatial resolution of image data acquired along the long axis of the patient (ie longitudinal, or z-axis spatial resolution). But physiologic motions can appear during a computed tomography (CT) exam and can lead to a degradation of this spatial resolution. By using two different phantoms and a dynamic platform, we have studied the influence of a z-axis linear motion on the MPR images quality. Our results show that the corruption of the data results in the loss of information about the form, the contrast and/or the size of the scanned object. This corruption of data can lead to diagnostic errors by mimicking diseases or by masking physiologic details.