Comparison of Imaging Quality Between Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT) and Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) (SPEQUA)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04328181 |
Recruitment Status :
Not yet recruiting
First Posted : March 31, 2020
Last Update Posted : March 31, 2020
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This pilot study wants to determine to which extent SPCCT allows obtaining images with improved quality and diagnostic confidence when compared to standard Dual Energy CT (DECT), both with and without contrast agent injection.
Depending on the anatomical structures/organs to be visualized during CT examinations, different scanning protocols are performed with quite variable ionizing radiation doses. Therefore, in order to obtain the most extensive and representative results of the improvement in image quality between SPCCT and DECT that will be performed CT imaging on several body regions and structures, including diabetic foot, diabetic calcium coronary scoring, adrenal glands, coronary arteries, lung parenchyma, kidney stones, inner ear, brain and joints
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Diabetic Foot Ulcer Coronary Artery Disease Parenchymatous; Pneumonia Kidney Stone Inner Ear Disease Brain Stroke Joint Diseases Diabetes Adrenal Incidentaloma Hyperaldosteronism Macroadenoma Interstitial Lung Disease Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations | Device: Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT) Device: DECT (Dual Energy CT) | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 200 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Diagnostic |
Official Title: | Comparison of Imaging Quality Between Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT) and Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) |
Estimated Study Start Date : | September 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | March 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | March 2022 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: SPCCT and standard DECT
Comparative intra-patients (each patient will have both types of scanner imaging done), clinical superiority study, evaluating the imaging performances (e.g. image quality and radiation dose) of SPCCT and standard DECT for several body regions/anatomical structures.
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Device: Spectral Photon Counting Computed Tomography (SPCCT)
For the dual-layer spectral CT scanner (IQon®, Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), the following parameters will be used for the acquisition:
Device: DECT (Dual Energy CT) The SPCCT scanner is a prototype spectral photon-counting computed tomography system derived from a modified clinical CT system with a field-of-view (FOV) of 168 mm in-plane, and a z-coverage of 20 mm. It is equipped with energy-sensitive photon-counting detectors relying on the direct conversion high band gap semiconductor of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT). The electronics comprises 5 rate counters with 5 different configurable energy thresholds. The SPCCT scanner has the following parameters:
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- quality of the images [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]A single four-point scale will be used (1: unacceptable, 2: usable under limited conditions, 3: probably acceptable, 4: fully acceptable) based on the European guidelines on quality criteria for computed tomography
- Diagnostic confidence graded [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]The diagnostic confidence grade will be calculated on a four-point scale (1: insufficient, 2: poor, 3: average, 4: good).
- Subjective image quality graded [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]It will be calculated on a five-point scale (1: poor, 2: fair, 3: average, 4: good, 5: excellent) for each following criterion: noise, artifacts and sharpness.
- CT Dose Index volumic (CTDIvol) [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]
To determine the radiation dose delivered to the patients during the DECT and SPCCT imaging procedures.
The CTDI is an estimation of the dose delivered to the organs for each acquired section that is based on acquisition parameters of a water phantom with a 32 cm diameter. The value is expressed in milligray (mGy).
- Dose Length Product (DLP) [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]
To determine the radiation dose delivered to the patients during the DECT and SPCCT imaging procedures.
The DLP is obtained as follows: CTDI * length of body explored = value in mGy.cm.
- Equivalent dose (mSv) [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]
To determine the radiation dose delivered to the patients during the DECT and SPCCT imaging procedures.
The equivalent dose is obtained by multiplying the DLP to the specific organ conversion factor.
- Quantitatively image quality : Noise [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]The noise by selecting regions of interest (ROI) will calculated.
- Quantitatively image quality : Density [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]The density (HU) by selecting regions of interest (ROI) will calculated.
- Quantitatively image quality : contrast-to-noise ratio [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) by selecting regions of interest (ROI) will calculated.
- Depiction of anatomical structures of interest [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]Depiction of anatomical structures of interest will be graded on a four-point scale (1: visualization just possible, 2: unclear borders but different structures already visible, 3: very good visualization, well-defined anatomy, 4: perfect delineation of anatomy).
- Radiation dose [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]An average radiation dose delivered to the patients for each clinical application will be calculated.
- Statistical comparison between SPCCT and DECT [ Time Frame: Day 8 ]Statistical comparison between SPCCT and DECT will be performed over all images and anatomical structures globally and also for each clinical application of interest.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
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Patients presenting following one of following medical conditions:
- Asymptomatic type 1 or 2 diabetes as regard to cardiovascular risks
- Diabetic foot ulcer
- Adrenal glands lesions: Adrenal incidentaloma or hyperaldosteronism or macroadenoma
- Urinary stone(s)
- Known Coronary artery disease: Stent imaging or control of calcified plaques
- Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Ground Glass Opacification, Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
- Conductive hearing loss
- Brain stroke (late or post thrombectomy)
- Intracranial arteriovenous malformation treated with coils or Onyx
- Joints diseases in haemophilia
- Patient has accepted to participate to the study and has signed the written consent;
- Pre-menopausal women only: Negative urinary pregnancy test on the day of imaging before the administration of study drug;
- Patient is affiliated to the French social security
Exclusion Criteria:
- Contraindication to the use of iodine containing contrast media (including subjects with suspicion for/or known to have NSF) (if injection);
- History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction to any allergen including drugs and contrast agents (as judged by the investigator, taking into account the intensity of the event);
- History of delayed major or delayed cutaneous reaction to Iomeron injection
- Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) value < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 derived from a serum creatinine result within 1 month before the imaging for examinations with contrast agent.
- Any subject on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis;
- Suspected clinical instability or unpredictability of the clinical course during the study period (e.g. due to previous surgery);
- Pregnant or nursing (including pumping for storage and feeding);
- Patient under guardianship, curatorship or safeguard of justice.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04328181
Contact: Philippe DOUEK, Pr | 04 72 07 18 83 ext +33 | douek@creatis.insa-lyon.fr | |
Contact: Adeline MANSUY | 04 72 11 51 70 ext +33 | adeline.mansuy@chu-lyon.fr |
Responsible Party: | Hospices Civils de Lyon |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04328181 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
69HCL19_0486 ID-RCB ( Other Identifier: 2019-A02945-52 ) |
First Posted: | March 31, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 31, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Diagnostic SPCCT |
Adrenocortical Adenoma Joint Diseases Lung Diseases Lung Diseases, Interstitial Ear Diseases Labyrinth Diseases Labyrinthitis Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations Kidney Calculi Coronary Artery Disease Diabetic Foot Arteriovenous Malformations Foot Ulcer Hyperaldosteronism Coronary Disease |
Myocardial Ischemia Heart Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Arteriosclerosis Arterial Occlusive Diseases Vascular Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Diabetic Angiopathies Leg Ulcer Skin Ulcer Skin Diseases Diabetes Complications Diabetes Mellitus Endocrine System Diseases Diabetic Neuropathies |