Spectral CT in peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer: a tool for differential diagnosis of small nodules?

Abstract

The detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis in patients with ovarian cancer is crucial to establish the correct therapeutic planning (debulking surgery versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy).Often, however, the nodules of peritoneal carcinomatosis are very small in size or have a reticular appearance that can mimic the fat stranding that is typical of acute inflammation conditions. Our hypothesis is that the use of dual-layer spectral computed tomography with its applications, such as virtual monoenergetic imaging and Z-effective imaging, might improve the detection and the characterisation of peritoneal nodules, increasing sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy, as recently described for other oncological diseases.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Planning with Dual-Layer Spectral CT Using Virtual Monoenergetic Image (VMI) Reconstructions and 20 mL of Contrast Media

“…From a single study, it is possible to decide retrospectively to enhance contrast by employing VMI reconstructions, create a virtual non-contrast image [18] to minimize patient radiation exposure, or investigate tissue composition through the utilization of Z effective images [19,20]. With dual-layer technology, there is no need to schedule a separate examination for a specific clinical question.…”