Purpose. To evaluate the influence of effective energy on computed tomography (CT) number in monoenergetic images (MEIs). Methods. Three bottle phantoms filled with water, oil, and a contrast agent were scanned at 100 and 140 kVp tube energy with a dual-source CT scanner. Cardiac dual-energy CT data was collected from 17 patients. CT numbers were measured in the 3 phantom materials and in the l...

PURPOSE To compare computed tomography (CT) number measurement consistency under different beam hardening conditions in phantom experiment between dual-energy spectral CT and conventional CT imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS A phantom with 8 cells in periphery region and 1 cell in central region were used. The 8 conditioning tubes in the periphery region were filled with 1 of the 3 iodine soluti...

Dual-energy computed tomography (CT) was used to estimate hepatic iron concentration in eight patients with primary haemochromatosis with varying degrees of iron overload. The values corresponded closely with these derived from chemical analysis of liver tissue obtained by biopsy (correlation coefficient 0.993). Dual-energy CT therefore seems to provide an accurate and non-invasive alternative ...

Recent developments in dual-energy X-ray CT have shown a number of benefits over standard CT for object separation, contrast enhancement, artifact reduction, and material composition assessment. As with traditional CT, model-based iterative approaches to reconstruction offer the opportunity to reduce noise and artifacts in dual energy reconstructions. However, previous approaches to model-based...

PURPOSE To determine the clinical utility of dual-energy computed tomography (CT) in evaluating solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained. CT scans were obtained before and 3 minutes after contrast material injection in 49 patients (26 men, 23 women; mean age, 60.39 years +/- 12.24 [sta...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dual-energy CT features the opportunity to differentiate among up to 3 different materials because the absorption of x-rays depends on the applied tube voltage and the atomic number of the material. For example, it is possible to distinguish between blood-brain barrier disruption and an intracerebral hemorrhage following treatment for a stroke. The aim of this study was t...

Dual-energy X-ray computed tomography (DECT) is a technique which is designed to allow the determination of energy-independent material properties. In this study, results of a computer simulation show that energy-dependent systematic errors exist in the values of attenuation coefficients synthesized using the basis material decomposition technique with acrylic and aluminum as the basis material...

BACKGROUND The recent implementation of the dual energy technology on CT-scanners has opened new perspectives in tissue and material characterization. This study aims to evaluate whether dual energy CT can be used to assess the concentration of cocaine of intra-intestinal illegal packets. METHODS The study was approved by the institutional review board of our institution (CER 13_027_R). From ...