Dual-energy CT (clinical applications)

Dual-energy CT or multispectral CT is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice due to the rapid rise in computer technology and expanding literature exhibiting vast advantages over conventional single energy CT. 

Clinical applications

The clinical practice, adaptation and techniques of dual-energy CT is broken into individual articles:

• virtual non-contrast imaging 

• vascular 

  • automated bone removal in CT angiography ²

  • decrease metal device artifact ⁷

  • detection of endoleaks ⁷ 

  • blood pool imaging ²

    • detection of pulmonary embolism

    • detection of myocardial ischemia 

• urinary system

  • characterization of renal stones ²

  • characterization of renal cysts and masses ^2-4

• neuroimaging

  • differentiation of hemorrhage from iodinated contrast

  • quantification of iodine leak in traumatic hemorrhagic contusions

  • bone removal

  • optimizing imaging

• ^​female breast

  • identification of silicone leaks from breast implants ²

  • improved tumor conspicuity of breast cancers relative to conventional CT, with the potential determination of prognostic biomarkers such as ER and PR status ⁶

• musculoskeletal

  • detection of bone marrow edema

  • detection and quantification of urate crystals in gout

  • reduction of metal artifact ⁷

• abdominal imaging

  • pancreatic diseases ⁵

• thoracic imaging

  • detection of pulmonary thromboembolism; structural as well as functional information is obtained through iodine maps of pulmonary perfusion ⁷

  • assessment of a solitary pulmonary nodule to determine malignancy status ^7,8