ObjectiveTo summarize the application of dual-energy CT scanning technology in the liver. MethodsTo search the relevant literatures at home and abroad, then the application of dual-energy CT scanning technology in focal liver lesions, diffuse liver lesions were analyzed and summarized. ResultsDual-energy CT scanning technology can improve detection rate of the focal liver lesions, liver cancer recurrence lesions after local treatment and help to differentiate focal liver lesions, to stage the malignant lesions, and it also can be more accurate quantification of liver iron, fat content, indirect measurement of hepatic blood flow dynamics change situation. ConclusionDual-energy CT scanning technology can improve the diagnostic value of CT scanning technology in liver disease.
Objective To explore the value of iodine overlay image technique based on dual-source CT dual-energy for the diagnosis in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods The imaging data of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE treatment from September 2015 to November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients completed dual-source CT dual-energy examination and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The imaging data of the patients were analyzed by conventional linear blending images and iodine overlay image. The results of DSA were taken as the gold standard. The data indexes measured by the two imaging methods were compared. The consistency between the two imaging methods and DSA was determined by Kappa statistics. Results A total of 31 patients were included, and 57 nodes were found under DSA examination. The image quality evaluation (P<0.05), sensitivity (95.35% vs. 69.77%), specificity (92.86% vs. 64.29%), accuracy (94.74% vs. 68.42%), positive predictive value (97.62% vs. 85.71%) and negative predictive value (86.67% vs. 40.91%) of iodine overlay images were higher than those of conventional linear blending images. The consistency between conventional linear blending images and DSA was low (Kappa=0.286, P=0.023), and the consistency between iodine overlay images and DSA was excellent (Kappa=0.861, P<0.001). Conclusions Iodine overlay image could avoid the iodide artifact effectively and evaluate the abnormal enhancement quantitatively and qualitatively in patients undegoing TACE. This method could obtain more information to help diagnose in clinical and evaluate the postoperative efficacy of TACE accurately and objectively.
ObjectiveTo explore the application value of dual-phase dual-energy CT (DECT) perfusion imaging in preoperative lung function assessment of lung cancer patients. MethodsData were collected from patients with stageⅠA non-small cell lung cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from November 2022 to June 2024. All patients underwent DECT perfusion imaging and pulmonary function testing (PFT) before surgery. PFT observation indicators included ventilation function indicators such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), 1-second rate (FEV1/FVC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and diffusion function indicators such as diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and DLCO per liter of alveolar volume (DLCO/VA). The software eXamine was used to obtain quantitative parameters of DECT perfusion imaging, including volume parameters and perfusion parameters of both lungs and each lung lobe. The correlation between the volume parameters and perfusion parameters of both lungs and the ventilation and diffusion function indicators of the patients, as well as the differences in quantitative parameters of each lung lobe, was analyzed. ResultsThe end-inspiration lung volume and biphasic volume difference were strongly positively correlated with FEV1 and FVC (r=0.638, r=0.682, r=0.614, r=0.624, P<0.001) and moderately positively correlated with MVV and DLCO (r=0.499, r=0.514, r=0.549, r=0.447, P<0.001); the end-expiration lung volume was weakly negatively correlated with DLCO/VA (r=−0.295, P<0.05); the volume ratio was positively correlated with FEV1, FVC, MVV, and MVV% (r=0.424, r=0.399, r=0.415, r=0.310, P<0.05); the end-inspiration iodine content was weakly positively correlated with DLCO/VA% (rs=0.292, P<0.05); the end-expiration iodine content was weakly positively correlated with FEV1, FVC, MVV, DLCO%, and DLCO/VA (r=0.307, r=0.299, r=0.295, r=0.366, r=0.320, P<0.05) and moderately positively correlated with DLCO (r=0.439, P<0.001); the end-inspiration iodine concentration was negatively correlated with FEV1, FVC, MVV, and MVV% (rs=−0.407, rs=−0.426, rs=−0.352, rs=−0.277, P<0.05); the end-expiratory phase iodine concentration is moderately positively correlated with DLCO/VA (r=0.403, P<0.05); both the iodine concentration difference and the iodine concentration ratio are moderately positively correlated with FEV1, FEV1%, FVC, MVV, MVV% (P<0.005). The lung volume and iodine concentration ratio values are both highest in the left upper lung lobe and lowest in the right middle lung lobe; the differences in lung volume, lung volume ratio, intrapulmonary iodine content, and intrapulmonary iodine concentration and concentration difference, from high to low, are in the lower lobes of both lungs, the upper lobes of both lungs, and the right middle lung lobe. ConclusionDual-phase DECT perfusion imaging can accurately assess overall lung function and quantify regional lung function.