Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying an instrument in a region of interest are provided. The imaging system includes a multi-slice detector, a processor coupled to the multi-slice detector, and a display configured to display reconstructed images. The processor is configured to receive a plurality of multi-slice scan data, identify at least a portion of an instrument in at least one slice of the plurality of multi-slice scan data, and display the identified instrument portion with an indicator associated with the at least one slice.

Abstract: A method for modifying a planar image slice in a CT scanner having a predetermined reconstruction angle, comprising: reconstructing an image of the slice using initial X-ray attenuation data acquired along an initial scan path sector; acquiring additional X-ray attenuation data along an additional scan path sector in a vicinity of the axial position of the slice, the sector having an angular extent substantially less than the reconstruction angle; and modifying the image, to provide a modified image of the slice, responsible to the additional attenuation data.

Abstract: A method for determining a time for acquiring contrast-enhanced images from a CT scanner of a subject into whom a contrast medium has been injected, the method including: identifying a region of interest in an initial CT image of the body of a subject; defining an attenuation data segment corresponding to the region of interest by reprojecting the region of interest in the initial image; receiving attenuation data within the segment from a subsequent scan of the patient; and independently processing the attenuation data received within the segment to estimate an optimal time for performing a diagnostic scan of the body, without reconstructing all or a portion of the CT image.