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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 6/2019

01-06-2019 | Computed Tomography

Can virtual monochromatic images from dual-energy CT replace low-kVp images for abdominal contrast-enhanced CT in small- and medium-sized patients?

Authors: Peijie Lv, Zhigang Zhou, Jie Liu, Yaru Chai, Huiping Zhao, Hua Guo, Daniele Marin, Jianbo Gao

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 6/2019

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the image quality and radiation dose of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) with automatic spectral imaging protocol selection (ASIS) compared with those of low-kVp CT in abdominal multiphase CT.

Methods

Four groups of 60 patients each underwent abdominal scans with low-kVp CT (A, 80 kVp/300 mg I/kg, body mass index [BMI] ≤ 23.9 kg/m2; C, 100 kVp/400 mg I/kg, BMI ranging from 24 to 28.9 kg/m2) or DECT with ASIS, and the 40- to 60-keV virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) generated (B and D) were matched by age, gender, BMI, cross-sectional area, and contrast agent dose; 9 patients were excluded due to technical failures. The CT number, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio, and subjective image quality were compared between the matched protocols (A and B or C and D) on 1.25-mm reconstructed images.

Results

VMIs at approximately 55 keV and 62 keV had CT numbers and contrast similar to those of 80-kVp and 100-kVp CT images, respectively. Compared to matched low-kVp images, VMIs at 50 keV provided a higher CT number and image noise and a similar or higher contrast and overall image quality. The radiation dose for DECT was higher than that of 80-kVp CT (increased by 10%), but was similar to that of 100-kVp CT.

Conclusion

Compared to matched low-kVp CT, VMIs at 50 keV in DECT with ASIS provided similar or higher overall image quality, with no or minimal dose penalty in small- and medium-sized patients.

Key Points

• Virtual monochromatic images at approximately 55 keV and 62 keV have CT numbers and contrast similar to those of 80-kVp and 100-kVp CT images, respectively, with a given noise index.
• The radiation dose in dual-energy CT with automatic spectral imaging protocol selection was slightly higher than that of 80-kVp CT (increased by 10%) but was similar to that of 100-kVp CT.
• Dual-energy CT may be able to replace l00-kVp CT for routine clinical abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scans.
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Metadata
Title
Can virtual monochromatic images from dual-energy CT replace low-kVp images for abdominal contrast-enhanced CT in small- and medium-sized patients?
Authors
Peijie Lv
Zhigang Zhou
Jie Liu
Yaru Chai
Huiping Zhao
Hua Guo
Daniele Marin
Jianbo Gao
Publication date
01-06-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5850-z

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