The effects of the skull on CT imaging of the brain: a skull and brain phantom study

Objective: To investigate the effects of beam hardening by the skull on the measured radiodensity of the brain. To test a hypothesis that these effects of beam hardening are decreased using a monochromatic energy source. Methods: Selected clinical cases were reviewed in illustration. An anthropomorphic skull and brain phantom was created and scanned in a clinical CT scanner with skull, without skull, and with hemicraniectomy. The effects of beam hardening were illustrated by scanning the phantom with mono- and poly-chromatic X-ray sources. Results: In clinical cases, the HU values of the brain were consistently lower when the X-ray beam traversed the skull than when it did not. An anthropomorphic skull-and-brain phantom further demonstrated these effects, which were evident with a polychromatic energy source and absent with a virtual monochromatic energy source. Conclusions: Beam hardening by the skull lowers the measured HU values of the brain. The effects, which can impact quantitative imaging, may be mitigated by a virtual monochromatic energy source. Advances in knowledge: Beam hardening by the skull lowers the measured radiodensity of the brain. The effects may be mitigated by a virtual monochromatic energy source.

Assessment of needle tip geometry during infusions into a brain phantom gel

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a promising method to deliver therapeutic drugs directly into the brain that has shown limited efficacy, mainly attributed to backflow, in which the infused drug flows back along the needle track rather than forward into tissue. This study evaluates the effect of sharp and blunt needle tips on backflow length under different flow rates via CED. Infusions were performed in a transparent 0.6% (w/v) brain phantom agarose hydrogel. Backflow length was significantly higher using sharp-tip needles for higher flow rates. No significant differences were observed between tip shapes for lower flow rates. In conclusion, sharp-tip needles present limitations for higher flow rates, which are needed to deliver more drug during shortest times.