What is the thinnest detector row configuration possible on a 32-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner?

In a 32-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner, the configuration of the detector rows determines the slice thickness that can be achieved during scanning. The thinnest detector row configuration is achieved by using the smallest available slice thickness multiplied by the number of rows that can be used simultaneously.

In this case, the detector can be configured to achieve a slice thickness of 0.5 mm across 32 rows. This means that each row can independently acquire data at this thin slice thickness, allowing for highly detailed imaging. The choice of 0.5 mm for each of the 32 rows maximizes resolution and provides finer details in the resulting images.

Other configurations such as 0.5 mm with fewer rows or thicker options reduce the spatial resolution and might not utilize the full capability of the scanner, which is specifically designed for a maximum of 32 slices at the smallest thickness available. Therefore, the thinnest configuration possible that leverages the full capacity of a 32-slice scanner is indeed 0.5 mm x 32 rows.