Variations in Cerium X-ray Spectra and Enhanced K-Edge Angiography

A cerium-target X-ray tube is useful in performing cone-beam K-edge angiography because K-series characteristic X-rays from the cerium target are absorbed effectively by iodine-based contrast media. The X-ray generator consists of a main controller and a unit with a high-voltage circuit and a fixed anode X-ray tube. The tube is a 1.0-mm-focus diode with a cerium target and a 0.5-mm-thick beryllium window. The maximum tube voltage and current were 65 kV and 0.4 mA, respectively. Cerium Kα rays were selected out using a barium sulfate filter, and the X-ray intensities without filtering and with a barium sulfate filter were 209 and 16.8 µGy/s, respectively, at 1.0 m from the source with a tube voltage of 60 kV and a current of 0.40 mA. Angiography was performed with an X-ray film using the filter and iodine-based microspheres 15 µm in diameter. In the angiography of nonliving animals, we observed fine blood vessels approximately 100 µm in diameter with high contrasts.