Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Can virtual non-enhanced CT be used to replace true non-enhanced CT for the detection of palpable cervical lymph nodes? A preliminary study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kao J, Lavaf A, Teng MS, Huang D, Genden EM. Adjuvant radiotherapy and survival for patients with node-positive head and neck cancer: an analysis by primary site and nodal stage. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008;71:362–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mack MG, Rieger J, Baghi M, Bisdas S, Vog TJ. Cervical lymph nodes. Eur J Radiol. 2008;66:493–500.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Vandecaveye V, De Keyzer F, Hermans R. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in neck lymph adenopathy. Cancer Imaging. 2008;8:173–80.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Vogl TJ, Schulz B, Bauer RW, Stöver T, Sader R, Tawfik AM. Dual-energy CT applications in head and neck imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2012;199:S34–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lu GM, Zhao Y, Zhang LJ, Schoepf UJ. Dual-energy CT of the lung. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2012;199:S40–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Heye T, Nelson RC, Ho LM, Marin D, Boll DT. Dual-energy CT applications in the abdomen. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2012;199:S64–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang LJ, Peng J, Wu SY, et al. Liver virtual non-enhanced CT with dual-source, dual-energy CT: a preliminary study. Eur Radiol. 2010;20:2257–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Mangold S, Thomas C, Fenchel M, et al. Virtual nonenhanced dual-energy CT urography with tin-filter technology: determinants of detection of urinary calculi in the renal collecting system. Radiology. 2012;264:119–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Takahashi N, Vrtiska TJ, Kawashima A, et al. Detectability of urinary stones on virtual nonenhanced images generated at pyelographic-phase dual-energy CT. Radiology. 2010;256:184–90.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tawfik AM, Kerl JM, Razek AA, et al. Image quality and radiation dose of dual-energy CT of the head and neck compared with a standard 120-kVp acquisition. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011;32:1994–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tawfik AM, Kerl JM, Bauer RW, et al. Dual-energy CT of head and neck cancer: average weighting of low- and high-voltage acquisitions to improve lesion delineation and image quality-initial clinical experience. Invest Radiol. 2012;47:306–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Behrendt FF, Schmidt B, Plumhans C, et al. Image fusion in dual energy computed tomography: effect on contrast enhancement, signal-to-noise ratio and image quality in computed tomography angiography. Invest Radiol. 2009;44:1–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. McCollough CH, Primak AN, Braun N, Kofler J, Yu L, Christner J. Strategies for reducing radiation dose in CT. Radiol Clin N Am. 2009;47:27–40.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Chu AJ, Lee JM, Lee YJ, Moon SK, Han JK, Choi BI. Dual-source, dual-energy multidetector CT for the evaluation of pancreatic tumours. Br J Radiol. 2012;85:e891–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Sun H, Xue HD, Wang YN, et al. Dual-source dual-energy computed tomography angiography for active gastrointestinal bleeding: a preliminary study. Clin Radiol. 2013;68:139–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Chae EJ, Song JW, Seo JB, Krauss B, Jang YM, Song KS. Clinical utility of dual-energy CT in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules: initial experience. Radiology. 2008;249:671–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang LJ, Yang GF, Wu SY, Xu J, Lu GM, Schoepf UJ. Dual-energy CT imaging of thoracic malignancies. Cancer Imaging. 2013;13:81–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kaufmann S, Sauter A, Spira D, et al. Tin-filter enhanced dual-energy-CT: image quality and accuracy of CT numbers in virtual noncontrast imaging. Acad Radiol. 2013;20:596–603.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Sahni VA, Shinagare AB, Silverman SG. Virtual unenhanced CT images acquired from dual-energy CT urography: accuracy of attenuation values and variation with contrast material phase. Clin Radiol. 2013;68:264–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. De Cecco CN, Darnell A, Macías N, et al. Virtual unenhanced images of the abdomen with second-generation dual-source dual-energy computed tomography: image quality and liver lesion detection. Invest Radiol. 2013;48:1–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Barrett T, Bowden DJ, Shaida N, et al. Virtual unenhanced second generation dual-source CT of the liver: is it time to discard the conventional unenhanced phase? Eur J Radiol. 2012;81:1438–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Toepker M, Moritz T, Krauss B, et al. Virtual non-contrast in second-generation, dual-energy computed tomography: reliability of attenuation values. Eur J Radiol. 2012;8:e398–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Shaida N, Bowden DJ, Barrett T, et al. Acceptability of virtual unenhanced CT of the aorta as a replacement for the conventional unenhanced phase. Clin Radiol. 2012;67:461–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Graser A, Johnson TR, Hecht EM, et al. Dual-energy CT in patients suspected of having renal masses: can virtual nonenhanced images replace true nonenhanced images? Radiology. 2009;252:433–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China

    Yaying Yang, Xiaoxia Jia & Yamin Deng

  2. Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China

    Jiuhong Chen

  3. Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China

    Long Jiang Zhang

Authors
  1. Yaying Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoxia Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yamin Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jiuhong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Long Jiang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yaying Yang.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, Y., Jia, X., Deng, Y. et al. Can virtual non-enhanced CT be used to replace true non-enhanced CT for the detection of palpable cervical lymph nodes? A preliminary study. Jpn J Radiol 32, 324–330 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-014-0308-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-014-0308-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation