PET-CT Imaging With PCD-CT
July 24, 2026 updated by: Medical University of South Carolina
Advancing PET-CT Imaging With Photon Counting Detector CT
This pilot study evaluates the clinical utility of photon counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in PET-CT imaging for head and neck cancer.
Twenty adult patients undergoing standard-of-care PET-CT will also receive PCD-CT imaging.
The study compares image quality and diagnostic confidence between conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) and PCD-CT for attenuation correction and anatomical imaging.
Study Overview
Status
Suspended
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
20
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Locations
-
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South Carolina
-
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29407
- Medical University of South Carolina
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-
Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Scheduled for or completed standard-of-care PET-CT of head and neck within ≤30 days
Exclusion Criteria:
- Non-diagnostic PET-CT
- Intervening therapy between scans
- Iodinated contrast allergy
- Renal insufficiency (GFR < 45)
- Pregnancy
- Gross motion artifacts
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Other
- Allocation: Non-Randomized
- Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Other: PET CT scan
To compare the image quality of PET images constructed using non-contrast PCD-CT image data to PET images constructed using conventional standard-of-care non-contrast EID-CT image data by performing a quantitative analysis of measurable image quality parameters.
|
A direct qualitative comparison of the subjective PET image quality will be performed. Two blinded board-certified radiologists/nuclear medicine physicians will independently review PET images constructed using non-contrast PCD-CT data as well as PET images constructed using standard of care non-contrast EID-CT data in random order. Both raters will assess PET images subjectively regarding overall image quality using a five-point Likert scale. The rating will be defined as: (1) non-diagnostic - insufficient diagnostic confidence, (2) poor - low diagnostic confidence, (3) moderate - average diagnostic confidence; (4) good - high diagnostic confidence, and (5) excellent - full diagnostic confidence. |
|
Other: PCD-CT
To compare the subjective image quality of PET images constructed using non-contrast PCD-CT image data to PET images constructed using conventional standard-of-care non-contrast EID-CT image data by performing a qualitative analysis of diagnostic confidence as determined by board-certified radiologists/nuclear medicine physicians during image review.
|
To compare the subjective image quality of PET images constructed using non-contrast PCD-CT image data to PET images constructed using conventional standard-of-care non-contrast EID-CT image data by performing a qualitative analysis of diagnostic confidence as determined by board-certified radiologists/nuclear medicine physicians during image review.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
improve PET image w/ non-contrast PCD-CT data
Time Frame: 2 years
|
We expect that the subjective PET image quality will be improved by using non-contrast PCD-CT data for construction resulting in higher diagnostic confidence; demonstrating a case for the integration of PCD-CT into standard of care clinical PET-CT imaging in the future.
There will be no direct benefit to study participants and the outcome will not be directly reported to the treatment team or patient and will not impact treatment or care received.
|
2 years
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Collaborators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Kevin Horn, PhD, MD, Medical University of South Carolina
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Estimated)
September 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
December 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
January 1, 2027
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
November 17, 2025
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
November 17, 2025
First Posted (Actual)
November 21, 2025
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
July 27, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
July 24, 2026
Last Verified
July 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- Pro00146888
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
Yes
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
No
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.