Photon-Counting CT
We are excited to present this special collection focused on the emerging field of photon-counting CT (PCCT), sponsored by Siemens Healthineers. This collection highlights the transformative potential of PCCT, which is poised to redefine the landscape of neuroimaging and head and neck diagnostics. As the technology evolves, it offers unparalleled advancements in image resolution, precision, and clinical applicability—transformations that are set to benefit both diagnostic radiology and patient care in profound ways.
Photon-counting CT is a cutting-edge modality that goes beyond the limitations of traditional energy-integrating detectors. With the ability to count individual photons, this technology offers significant improvements in spatial and contrast resolution, enabling the detailed visualization of fine anatomic structures that were previously challenging to capture. It also promises to provide better tissue differentiation, enhancing our ability to detect subtle abnormalities in both soft tissues and bony structures. Beyond this, its ability to reduce radiation dose without compromising image quality is one of its most compelling advantages, offering a safer imaging alternative—especially for pediatric and sensitive patient populations.
The contributions in this special issue reflect the breadth of this technology’s application, from its use in highly detailed imaging of the temporal bone to its potential for improved neurovascular imaging. As we continue to explore and push the boundaries of photon-counting CT, it is becoming increasingly clear that its role in advancing diagnostic imaging is not limited to structural imaging alone, but extends to dynamic and functional applications as well.
This collection provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of photon-counting CT, showcasing its potential not only to improve diagnostic accuracy but also to pave the way for new clinical possibilities. With its ability to offer clearer, more detailed images at lower doses, photon-counting CT stands at the threshold of a new era in medical imaging. As the technology continues to evolve, we anticipate that it will become a central tool in clinical practice, particularly in neuroimaging, otology, and beyond.
We hope this collection sparks further exploration into the potential of photon-counting CT and serves as an invaluable resource for both clinicians and researchers interested in this groundbreaking advancement. It is an exciting time for medical imaging, and we look forward to the continued development of this transformative technology.
Max Wintermark, MD
Editor-in-Chief, AJNR
- Photon-counting detector CT of the brain reduces variability of Hounsfield units and has a mean offset compared with energy-integrating detector CT
Thomas Stein, Friederike Lang, Stephan Rau, Marco Reisert, Maximilian. F. Russe, Till Schürmann, Anna Fink, Elias Kellner, Jakob Weiss, Fabian Bamberg, Horst Urbach, Alexander Rau
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 1-Jul-2025 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8910
- Pituitary Photon Counting Detector CT for Cushing Disease: Pre-operative Lesion Localization, Intraoperative Findings, and Post-operative Outcomes
Ian T Mark, Giorgos Michalopoulos, Jamie Van Gompel, Maria Peris Celda, Irina Bancos, Diane Donegan, Lucinda M. Gruber, Dana Erickson, Alex A. Nagelschneider, Lifeng Yu
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 23-Jun-2025 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8893
- Optimization of Photon-Counting CT Myelography for the Detection of CSF-Venous Fistulas Using Convolutional Neural Network Denoising: A Comparative Analysis of Reconstruction Techniques
Ajay A. Madhavan, Zhongxing Zhou, Paul J. Farnsworth, Jamison Thorne, Timothy J. Amrhein, Peter G. Kranz, Waleed Brinjikji, Jeremy K. Cutsforth-Gregory, Michelle L. Kodet, Nikkole M. Weber, Grace Thompson, Felix E. Diehn, Lifeng Yu
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 19-Jun-2025 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8695
- Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting-Detector CT with a Dedicated Denoising Convolutional Neural Network for Enhanced Temporal Bone Imaging
Shaojie Chang, John C. Benson, John I. Lane, Michael R. Bruesewitz, Joseph R. Swicklik, Jamison E. Thorne, Emily K. Koons, Matthew L. Carlson, Cynthia H. McCollough, Shuai Leng
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 3-Jun-2025 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8572
- Photon-Counting CT Myelography for the Detection of Spinal CSF Leaks
Ajay A. Madhavan, Peter G. Kranz, Waleed Brinjikji, Ian T. Mark, Timothy J. Amrhein
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 2-Apr-2025 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8736
- Pre- and Postoperative Imaging of Cochlear Implantation in Cadaveric Specimens Using Low-Dose Photon-Counting Detector CT
Bjoern Spahn, Franz-Tassilo Müller-Graff, Kristen Rak, Jonas Engert, Johannes Voelker, Stephan Hackenberg, Rudolf Hagen, Tilmann Neun, Bernhard Petritsch, Thorsten Alexander Bley, Jan-Peter Grunz, Henner Huflage
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 3-Feb-2025 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8533
- Comprehensive Review of Inner Ear Anatomy on Photon-Counting CT
Dinesh Rao, John V. Murray, Amit K. Agarwal, Sukhwinder Johnny Sandhu, Pat A. Rhyner
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 14-Nov-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8410
- Optimizing Photon-Counting Detector CT for Imaging Intracranial Aneurysms
Kishore Rajendran, Ajay A. Madhavan
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 3-Oct-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8400
- High-Resolution Head CTA: A Prospective Patient Study Comparing Image Quality of Photon-Counting Detector CT and Energy-Integrating Detector CT
Felix E. Diehn, Zhongxing Zhou, Jamison E. Thorne, Norbert G. Campeau, Alex A. Nagelschneider, Laurence J. Eckel, John C. Benson, Ajay A. Madhavan, Girish Bathla, Vance T. Lehman, Nathan R. Huber, Francis Baffour, Joel G. Fletcher, Cynthia H. McCollough, Lifeng Yu
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 3-Oct-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8342
- Neurovascular Imaging with Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting CT: Preliminary Findings on Image-Quality Evaluation
Adrienn Tóth, Justin A. Chetta, Milad Yazdani, M. Gisele Matheus, Jim O‘Doherty, Sameer V. Tipnis, M. Vittoria Spampinato
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 3-Oct-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8350
- Comparison of Image Quality and Radiation Dose in Pediatric Temporal Bone CT Using Photon-Counting Detector CT and Energy-Integrating Detector CT
Jeong Sub Lee, John Kim, Jayapalli R. Bapuraj, Ashok Srinivasan
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 9-Sep-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8276
- Photon-Counting CT in the Head and Neck: Current Applications and Future Prospects
John C. Benson, Norbert G. Campeau, Felix E. Diehn, John I. Lane, Shuai Leng, Gul Moonis, on behalf of the ASHNR Research Committee
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 9-Aug-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8265
- Back to the Future: Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Photon-Counting Detector CT for the Detection of Pituitary Adenoma in Cushing Disease
Ian T. Mark, Jamie Van Gompel, Irina Bancos, Alex A. Nagelschneider, Derek R. Johnson, Girish Bathla, Ajay A. Madhavan, Nikkole M. Weber, Lifeng Yu
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 7-Jun-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8171
- Comprehensive Review of External and Middle Ear Anatomy on Photon Counting CT
Dinesh Rao, John V. Murray, Amit K. Agarwal, Sukhwinder Johnny Sandhu, Pat A. Rhyner
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 28-May-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8359
- Benefits of Photon-Counting CT Myelography for Localization of Dural Tears in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension
Ajay A. Madhavan, Jeremy K. Cutsforth-Gregory, Waleed Brinjikji, John C. Benson, Ben A. Johnson-Tesch, Greta B. Liebo, Ian T. Mark, Michael P. Oien, Darya P. Shlapak, Lifeng Yu, Jared T. Verdoorn
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 9-May-2024 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8179
- Application of a Denoising High-Resolution Deep Convolutional Neural Network to Improve Conspicuity of CSF-Venous Fistulas on Photon-Counting CT Myelography
Ajay A. Madhavan, Jeremy K. Cutsforth-Gregory, Waleed Brinjikji, John C. Benson, Felix E. Diehn, Ian T. Mark, Jared T. Verdoorn, Zhongxing Zhou, Lifeng Yu
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 29-Dec-2023 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8097
- Discrimination of Hemorrhage and Contrast Media in a Head Phantom on Photon-Counting Detector CT Data
Franka Risch, Ansgar Berlis, Thomas Kroencke, Florian Schwarz, Christoph J. Maurer
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 28-Dec-2023 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8093
- Diagnostic Performance of Decubitus Photon-Counting Detector CT Myelography for the Detection of CSF-Venous Fistulas
Ajay A. Madhavan, Jeremy K. Cutsforth-Gregory, Waleed Brinjikji, Girish Bathla, John C. Benson, Felix E. Diehn, Laurence J. Eckel, Ian T. Mark, Pearse P. Morris, Melissa A. Payne, Jared T. Verdoorn, Nikkole M. Weber, Lifeng Yu, Francis Baffour, Joel G. Fletcher, Cynthia H. McCollough
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 11-Dec-2023 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A8040
- Utility of Photon-Counting Detector CT Myelography for the Detection of CSF-Venous Fistulas
A.A. Madhavan, L. Yu, W. Brinjikji, J.K. Cutsforth-Gregory, F.R. Schwartz, I.T. Mark, J.C. Benson, T.J. Amrhein
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 8-Jun-2023 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A7887
- A New Frontier in Temporal Bone Imaging: Photon-Counting Detector CT Demonstrates Superior Visualization of Critical Anatomic Structures at Reduced Radiation Dose
J.C. Benson, K. Rajendran, J.I. Lane, F.E. Diehn, N.M. Weber, J.E. Thorne, N.B. Larson, J.G. Fletcher, C.H. McCollough, S. Leng
Journal Article | American Journal of Neuroradiology Date: 8-Apr-2022 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A7452


