Faculty Collaboration Database

Oncologic applications of dual-energy CT in the abdomen. Radiographics 2014;34(3):589-612

Date

05/14/2014

Pubmed ID

24819783

DOI

10.1148/rg.343135041

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84900396455 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   197 Citations

Abstract

Dual-energy computed tomographic (DECT) technology offers enhanced capabilities that may benefit oncologic imaging in the abdomen. By using two different energies, dual-energy CT allows material decomposition on the basis of energy-dependent attenuation profiles of specific materials. Although image acquisition with dual-energy CT is similar to that with single-energy CT, comprehensive postprocessing is able to generate not only images that are similar to single-energy CT (SECT) images, but a variety of other images, such as virtual unenhanced (VUE), virtual monochromatic (VMC), and material-specific iodine images. An increase in the conspicuity of iodine on low-energy VMC images and material-specific iodine images may aid detection and characterization of tumors. Use of VMC images of a desired energy level (40-140 keV) improves lesion-to-background contrast and the quality of vascular imaging for preoperative planning. Material-specific iodine images enable differentiation of hypoattenuating tumors from hypo- or hyperattenuating cysts and facilitate detection of isoattenuating tumors, such as pancreatic masses and peritoneal disease, thereby defining tumor targets for imaging-guided therapy. Moreover, quantitative iodine mapping may serve as a surrogate biomarker for monitoring effects of the treatment. Dual-energy CT is an innovative imaging technique that enhances the capabilities of CT in evaluating oncology patients.

Author List

Agrawal MD, Pinho DF, Kulkarni NM, Hahn PF, Guimaraes AR, Sahani DV

Author

Naveen Kulkarni MD Assistant Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Abdominal Neoplasms
Adipose Tissue
Artifacts
Contrast Media
Diagnosis, Differential
Digestive System Neoplasms
Humans
Iodine Compounds
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Radiography, Abdominal
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Urogenital Neoplasms
Viscera