What’s New in Photon Counting CT?

June 14, 2026 · 4 articles · 4 research themes · covering June 07, 2026 – June 14, 2026

Overview

This week’s research highlights a clear push toward more quantitative, mechanism-relevant imaging and objective biomarkers across musculoskeletal, neurologic, and cardiovascular domains. In musculoskeletal imaging, photon-counting CT (PCCT) and dual-energy approaches are being refined to extract tissue composition information—such as paraspinal muscle fat infiltration using virtual noncontrast fat fraction and 70 keV attenuation, and calcification typing in the knee meniscus (basic calcium phosphate vs calcium pyrophosphate) using energy-bin–based characterization. Together, these studies suggest that next-generation CT detectors can move beyond morphology toward material-specific measurements that may improve risk stratification and disease understanding.

On the neurologic side, a prospective biomarker study evaluates cerebrospinal fluid beta trace protein (BTP) as an objective discriminator for cerebrospinal fluid–venous fistula–related spontaneous intracranial hypotension. By separating positive from negative myelography results, CSF BTP could reduce dependence on invasive or equivocal diagnostic pathways. Finally, a review synthesizes how coronary CT—combining calcium scoring and coronary CT angiography—may enable prevention strategies grounded in direct visualization of atherosclerosis, shifting primary prevention from purely risk-factor algorithms toward personalized, disease-based targeting.

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Photon-Counting CT and Material Decomposition

Photon-counting CT for paraspinal muscle fat quantification compared with MRI proton density fat fraction.

This prospective study evaluated photon-counting CT (PCCT)–derived 70 keV attenuation values and virtual noncontrast fat fraction (VNC FF) for quantifying paraspinal muscle fat infiltration in 76 adults with low back pain, using 6-echo q-Dixon MRI proton density fat fraction (PDFF) as the reference standard. PCCT VNC FF and 70 keV attenuation measurements showed performance for muscle fat quantification that was benchmarked against MRI PDFF. These findings support PCCT as a radiation-efficient, material-decomposition–based alternative for objective assessment of paraspinal muscle fat infiltration relevant to low back pain and musculoskeletal risk stratification.

Shu D, Wang J, Liang D et al. · BMC medical imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Dual-Energy CT for Tissue/Calcification Characterization

Characterizing Meniscal Calcifications with Photon Counting-Based Dual-Energy Computed Tomography.

This in vitro study used photon-counting detector dual-energy CT (PCD-DECT) at 120 kVp to determine whether dual-energy imaging can distinguish basic calcium phosphate (BCP) from calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) meniscal calcifications, with Raman spectroscopy as the reference. Across 82 meniscus samples from 41 donors, PCD-DECT energy-bin data (20–50 keV and 50–120 keV) were used to characterize calcification type. If validated, PCD-DECT could enable noninvasive, in vivo differentiation of BCP versus CPP calcifications, improving understanding of calcification pathology and osteoarthritis (OA) mechanisms.

Nevanranta EA, Karjalainen VP, Brix M et al. · Annals of biomedical engineering · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Biomarkers for CSF Disorders and Diagnostic Testing

Elevated CSF Beta Trace Protein Levels in Patients with CSF-Venous Fistulas.

This prospective study measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta trace protein (BTP) levels in 71 patients undergoing lateral decubitus myelography for suspected CSF-venous fistulas (CVFs) to test whether BTP could differentiate positive versus negative myelograms. Patients with CVF-positive myelography had elevated CSF BTP levels compared with those with negative studies. Establishing CSF BTP as an objective biomarker could improve diagnostic accuracy for spontaneous intracranial hypotension related to CVFs and reduce reliance on invasive or equivocal testing.

Mark IT, Habibi P, Kim DK et al. · AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Coronary CT for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification and Prevention

The emerging role of coronary computed tomography for prevention of cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic individuals.

This review article examined how coronary computed tomography (CT)—including coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and coronary CT angiography (CCTA)—can be used for prevention of cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic individuals. It argues that direct visualization of coronary atherosclerosis can shift primary prevention from risk-factor–based algorithms toward personalized, disease-based risk stratification and targeted preventive therapy. Clinically, this supports broader adoption of coronary CT to better identify individuals who would benefit most from preventive interventions despite underdiagnosis of ASCVD in people without prior symptoms.

Verpalen VA, Aboyans V, Dweck MR et al. · European journal of preventive cardiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Generated automatically on June 14, 2026. Covers PubMed articles published June 07, 2026 – June 14, 2026. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.