Abstract
Dual energy computed tomography (CT) methods are revolutionizing neurological imaging by refining material characterization using CT, improving the detection of contrast enhancement, and reducing scatter-related artifacts. These techniques improve our accuracy for differentiation of hemorrhage from calcification and contrast staining. They also allow the selection of lower energy X-ray beams that increase the conspicuity of intravascular enhancement, potentially useful in CT angiograms using low contrast doses. A new type of dual-energy CT technology called Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GE healthcare) also allows the selection of X-ray beams at specific energy levels to optimize parenchymal visualization. These applications offer a glimpse of the significant potential of dual-energy technology to expand the role of computed tomography in neuroimaging and cerebrovascular imaging.
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Abbreviations
- CDTIvol:
-
Volume CT dose index
- CIN:
-
Contrast-induced nephropathy
- CNR:
-
Contrast-to-noise ratio
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- CTA:
-
Computed tomography angiography
- DE:
-
Dual energy
- DFOV:
-
Display field of view
- FOV:
-
Field of view
- GRE:
-
Gradient-recalled echo
- GSI:
-
Gemstone spectral imaging
- HU:
-
Hounsfield units
- keV:
-
Kiloelectron volt
- kVp:
-
Peak kilovoltage
- ROI:
-
Region of interest
- SFOV:
-
Scan field of view
- SWI:
-
Susceptibility-weighted imaging
- VNC:
-
Virtual noncontrast
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Rapalino, O. et al. (2011). Neurological Applications. In: Johnson, T., Fink, C., Schönberg, S., Reiser, M. (eds) Dual Energy CT in Clinical Practice. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2010_32
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