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Dual energy MDCT assessment of renal lesions: an overview

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Abstract

With the expansion of cross-sectional imaging, the number of renal lesions that are incidentally discovered has increased. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is the investigation of choice for characterising and staging renal lesions. Although a definitive diagnosis can be confidently posed for most of them, a number of renal lesions remain indeterminate following MDCT. Further imaging tests are therefore needed, with subsequent increase of healthcare costs, radiation exposure, and patient anxiety. By addressing most of the issues with conventional MDCT imaging, dual-energy MDCT can improve the diagnosis of renal lesions and, potentially, may represent a paradigm shift from a merely attenuation-based to a material-specific spectral imaging investigation. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current clinical applications of dual-energy CT in the evaluation of renal lesions.

Key Points

• As MDCT expands, an increasing number of renal lesions are serendipitously discovered.

• With conventional MDCT, technical issues affect the diagnosis of renal lesions.

• Dual-energy CT addresses some of the drawbacks of conventional MDCT.

• Dual-energy CT may represent a paradigm shift for renal lesions imaging.

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Abbreviations

HU:

Hounsfield units

kVp:

Kilovolt peak

MDCT:

Multidetector computed tomography

RCC:

Renal cell carcinoma

ROI:

Region of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Achille Mileto, Daniele Marin, Rendon C. Nelson & Daniel T. Boll

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, Policlinico “G. Martino”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Achille Mileto & Giorgio Ascenti

Authors
  1. Achille Mileto
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  2. Daniele Marin
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  3. Rendon C. Nelson
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  4. Giorgio Ascenti
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  5. Daniel T. Boll
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Correspondence to Daniel T. Boll.

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Mileto, A., Marin, D., Nelson, R.C. et al. Dual energy MDCT assessment of renal lesions: an overview. Eur Radiol 24, 353–362 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3030-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-013-3030-8

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