Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Virtual Monoenergetic Imaging of Lung Cancer

Abstract

Virtual monoenergetic imaging reconstructions at 60-keV provided the best combination of subjective and objective image qualities in DECT of lung cancer.

Noise reduction in dual‐energy computed tomography virtual monoenergetic imaging

“…In addition, DECT‐based VMIs can be used to assess fatty liver and hypervascularized abdominal tumors . Despite promising results obtained in recent investigations, the noise levels of DECT‐based VMIs were high at low and high keVs …”

“…In particular, virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) derived from DECT images have shown encouraging results and gained popularity recently . Clinical applications of DECT‐based VMIs include metal artifact reduction, beam‐hardening correction, contrast and noise optimization, and material differentiation . In addition, DECT‐based VMIs can be used to assess fatty liver and hypervascularized abdominal tumors .…”

Clinical Implementation of Dual-energy CT for Proton Treatment Planning on Pseudo-monoenergetic CT scans

“…To guarantee the clinical feasibility and safety of proton treatment planning on MonoCTs instead of SECT scans, specific requirements have to be fulfilled, which were evaluated within this study: similar image quality, at least comparable precision in range prediction, and no clinically relevant changes in dose distributions. This stepwise clinical implementation already provides with MonoCTs more possibilities to increase tissue contrast (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) and to reduce metal artifacts (13,19), and it offers the opportunity to determine the ultimate role of DECT in proton therapy in a subsequent step by quantifying the potential benefits of a patient-specific DECT-based proton range prediction on a large DECT tumor patient database.…”

Technical Note: Enhancing soft tissue contrast and radiation‐induced image changes with dual‐energy CT for radiation therapy

“…9 Kaup et al found the optimal MEI energy level for subjective and objective image quality of lung cancer lesions. 10 11,12 Furthermore, it has been shown that enhancements in CT image quality reduce uncertainties in patient positioning during image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and hence can reduce setup margins during treatment planning. 13 It follows that contrast enhancement from DECT would improve the quality of IGRT planning and delivery.…”

“…The following year Sudarski et al evaluated subjective and objective image quality enhancements for MEI of gastrointestinal stromal tumors . Kaup et al found the optimal MEI energy level for subjective and objective image quality of lung cancer lesions . Two studies (Frellessen et al and Hardie et al) demonstrated a contrast enhancement for diagnostic pancreatic imaging .…”