title: Oncologic applications of dual-energy CT in the abdomen.
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.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Abdominal and Interventional Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, White Building, Room 270, Boston, MA 02114-2696.
authors.forename: Mukta D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Daniella F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.forename: Naveen M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Guimaraes
authors.forename: Dushyant V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Sahani
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017613:Iodine Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014781:Viscera / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D017613:Iodine Compounds