PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of virtual non-contrast CT (VNCT) from dual-energy CT to replace true nonenhanced CT (TNCT) for the detection of enlarged cervical lymph nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with 94 histopathologically proven cervical lymph nodes were imaged with the dual-energy CT technique. VNCT images from the arterial [VNCT-A] and venous phases [VNCT-V] were obtained with the liver VNC application. The mean CT number and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared. Image quality was evaluated with a score scale of 1-5. Effective dose (ED) was calculated and compared. RESULTS: Mean CT numbers of cervical lymph nodes were higher on VNCT than on TNCT (P = 0.034). There was no difference in the SNR among three sets of non-enhanced CT images, but the CNR of VNCT images was higher than that of TNCT images (P < 0.001). Image quality of VNCT from two phases was comparable to that of TNCT (P = 0.070). There was no difference in image quality of three sets of non-enhanced CT images (P > 0.05). ED from dual-phase dual-energy CT was lower than that from tri-phase CT scans (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: VNCT images from dual-energy CT of the neck had diagnostic image quality; they have the potential to replace TNCT, thus reducing the radiation dose.
PURPOSE: To investigate the potential of virtual non-contrast CT (VNCT) from dual-energy CT to replace true nonenhanced CT (TNCT) for the detection of enlarged cervical lymph nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with 94 histopathologically proven cervical lymph nodes were imaged with the dual-energy CT technique. VNCT images from the arterial [VNCT-A] and venous phases [VNCT-V] were obtained with the liver VNC application. The mean CT number and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared. Image quality was evaluated with a score scale of 1-5. Effective dose (ED) was calculated and compared. RESULTS: Mean CT numbers of cervical lymph nodes were higher on VNCT than on TNCT (P = 0.034). There was no difference in the SNR among three sets of non-enhanced CT images, but the CNR of VNCT images was higher than that of TNCT images (P < 0.001). Image quality of VNCT from two phases was comparable to that of TNCT (P = 0.070). There was no difference in image quality of three sets of non-enhanced CT images (P > 0.05). ED from dual-phase dual-energy CT was lower than that from tri-phase CT scans (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: VNCT images from dual-energy CT of the neck had diagnostic image quality; they have the potential to replace TNCT, thus reducing the radiation dose.
Authors: Michael Toepker; Thomas Moritz; Bernhard Krauss; Michael Weber; Gordon Euller; Thomas Mang; Florian Wolf; Christian J Herold; Helmut Ringl Journal: Eur J Radiol Date: 2012-01-10 Impact factor: 3.528
Authors: Sascha Kaufmann; Alexander Sauter; Daniel Spira; Sergios Gatidis; Dominik Ketelsen; Martin Heuschmid; Claus D Claussen; Christoph Thomas Journal: Acad Radiol Date: 2013-03-13 Impact factor: 3.173
Authors: Naoki Takahashi; Terri J Vrtiska; Akira Kawashima; Robert P Hartman; Andrew N Primak; Joel G Fletcher; Cynthia H McCollough Journal: Radiology Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: N Shaida; D J Bowden; T Barrett; E M Godfrey; A Taylor; A P Winterbottom; T C See; D J Lomas; A S Shaw Journal: Clin Radiol Date: 2011-12-15 Impact factor: 2.350
Authors: Carlo Nicola De Cecco; Anna Darnell; Napoleón Macías; Juan Ramón Ayuso; Sonia Rodríguez; Jordi Rimola; Mario Pagés; Angeles García-Criado; Marco Rengo; Andrea Laghi; Carmen Ayuso Journal: Invest Radiol Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 6.016