Hounsfield scale

The Hounsfield scale /ˈhaʊnzˌfiːld/, named after Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, is a quantitative
scale for describing radiodensity. It is frequently used in CT scans, where its value is also
termed CT number.

Definition

The Hounsfield unit (HU) scale is a linear transformation of the original linear attenuation
coefficient measurement into one in which the radiodensity of distilled water at standard
pressure and temperature (STP) is defined as zero Hounsfield units (HU), while the
radiodensity of air at STP is defined as −1000 HU. In a voxel with average linear
attenuation coefficient , the corresponding HU value is therefore given by:

where and are respectively the linear attenuation coefficients of water and air.

Thus, a change of one Hounsfield unit (HU) represents a change of 0.1% of the attenuation
coefficient of water since the attenuation coefficient of air is nearly zero.

It is the definition for CT scanners that are calibrated with reference to water.

Rationale
E…
The above standards were chosen as they are universally available references and suited to
the key application for which computed axial tomography was developed: imaging the
internal anatomy of living creatures based on organized water structures and mostly living in
air, e.g. humans.
 Values for different body tissues and material

HU applies to medical-grade dual-energy CT scans but not to cone beam computed

tomography (CBCT) scans.[1]

Values reported here are approximations. Different dynamics are reported from one study to
another.

Exact HU dynamics can vary from one CT acquisition to another due to CT acquisition and
reconstruction parameters (kV, filters, reconstruction algorithms, etc.). The use of contrast
agents modifies HU as well in some body parts (mainly blood).
 Substance HU

Air −1000

Fat −120 to −90[2]

Soft tissue on contrast CT +100 to +300

Cancellous +300 to +400[3]

Bone
Cortical +500 to +1900[4][3][5]

First hours +75 to +100[6]

Subdural
After 3 days +65 to +85[6]
hematoma
After 10–14 days +35 to +40[7]

Unclotted +13[8] to +50[9]

Other blood
Clotted +50[10] to +75[8][10]
[11]
Pleural Transudate +2 to +15
effusion Exudate +4 to +33[11]

Chyle −30[12]
Water 0

Urine −5 to +15[2]

Bile −5 to +15[2]
Other fluids
CSF +15

Abscess / Pus 0[13] or +20,[14] to +40[14] or +45[13]

0[15] - 130[16] ("high attenuating"

Mucus
at over 70 HU)[17][18]
Lung −700 to −600[19]

Kidney +20 to +45[2]

Liver 60 ± 6[20]
Lymph nodes +10 to +20[21]

Parenchyma Muscle +35 to +55[2]

+20 to +40 in children[22]

Thymus
+20 to +120 in adolescents[22]
White matter +20 to +30

Grey matter +37 to +45

Gallstone Cholesterol stone +30 to +100[23]

 Bilirubin stone +90 to +120[23]

Windowpane glass +500

Aluminum, tarmac, car window glass,

+2,100 to +2,300
bottle glass, and other rocks

Foreign Limestone +2,800

body[24] Copper +14,000

Silver +17,000

Steel +20,000

Gold, steel, and brass +30,000 (upper measurable limit)

Earwax <0

A practical application of this is in evaluation of tumors, where, for example, an adrenal tumor
with a radiodensity of less than 10 HU is rather fatty in composition and almost certainly a
benign adrenal adenoma.[25]

See also

Cone beam computed tomography: Bone density and the Hounsfield scale.

References

Feeman, Timothy G. (2010). The Mathematics of Medical Imaging: A Beginner's

Guide. Springer Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics and Technology. Springer. ISBN
978-
0387927114.

Notes

1. De Vos, W.; Casselman, J.; Swennen, G.R.J. (June 2009). "Cone-beam computerized
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doi:10.1016/j.ijom.2009.02.028 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ijom.2009.02.028) .
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2. Page 83 in: Herbert Lepor (2000). Prostatic Diseases. W.B. Saunders Company.
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 3. Birur, NPraveen; Patrick, Sanjana; Gurushanth, Keerthi; Raghavan, AShubhasini; Gurudath,
Shubha (2017). "Comparison of gray values of cone-beam computed tomography with hounsfield
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(https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fijdr.IJDR_415_1
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(2012-
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Author: Perry J Horwich. Chief Editor: Eugene C Lin. Updated: Apr 21, 2011

External links

"Hounsfield unit"
(https://archive.today/20120404030558/http://www.medcyclopaedia.co
m/library/topics/volume_i/h/hounsfield_unit.aspx) . Medcyclopaedia. GE. Archived
from the original
(http://www.medcyclopaedia.com/library/topics/volume_i/h/hounsfield_unit.
aspx) on 2012-04-04.

Hounsfield Unit (http://www.fpnotebook.com/Rad/CT/HnsfldUnt.htm) - fpnotebook.com

"Introduction to CT physics"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231241/http://www.in tl.elsevierhealth.com/e-
books/pdf/940.pdf) (PDF). elsevierhealth.com. Archived from the original
(http://www.intl.elsevierhealth.com/e-books/pdf/940.pdf) (PDF) on 2007-09-26.
 Imaging of deep brain stimulation leads using extended Hounsfield unit CT. Stereotact
Funct Neurosurg. 2009;87(3):155-60. doi: 10.1159/000209296 (https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/24234798_Imaging_of_deep_brain_stimulation_leads_using_extended_Ho
unsfield_unit_CT)

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