Dual-energy CT applications in the abdomen.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to give a brief overview of the technical background of dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging and to review various DECT applications in the abdomen that are currently available for clinical practice. In a review of the recent literature, specific DECT applications available for abdominal organs, liver, pancreas, kidneys including renal stones, and adrenal glands, will be discussed in light of reliability and clinical usefulness in replacing true unenhanced imaging, increased lesion conspicuity, iodine extraction, and improved tissue/material characterization (e.g., renal stone composition). Radiation dose considerations will be addressed in comparison with standard abdominal imaging protocols. Modern DECT applications for the abdomen expand the use of CT and enable advanced quantitative methods in the clinical routine on the basis of differences in material attenuation observed by imaging at two different distinct photon energies.