ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introductory review of multi-slice computed tomography's (MSCT) system architecture, image reconstruction solutions, image quality and its assessment, and clinical applications, as well as its technological and clinical potential in the near future. In general, the major image qualities to evaluate the performance of an MSCT are contrast, spatial, and temporal resolution, with the addition of energy or spectral resolution implemented in state-of-the-art MSCT via dual-source-dual-detector or dual peak energies (kVP) scanning. As one of the most popular imaging modalities, MSCT is playing an indispensible role for clinical excellence. In principle, the statistical iterative image reconstruction is an optimization-based solution, in which an accurate modeling of the imaging chain of MSCT at high fidelity is critical to its success. The energy resolution implemented by a dual-source-dual-detector or kVP scan is a major addition to MSCT's capability for clinical applications.
