Priya Ranjit Bhosale MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Aparna Balachandran MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ott Le MD, Presenter: Research support, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc

Patricia Sue Fox MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eric Paulson, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eric P. Tamm MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare contrast to noise ratio (CNR) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), performed with pancreatic phase dual energy (DECT) versus 120 kVp CT.

Seventy-eight patients underwent baseline multiphasic pancreatic protocol for PDA (40 DECT, 38 120kVp). On pancreatic phase DECT, CNR for PDA at monochromatic energies of 50, 60, 70 keV and iodine material density (IMD) images were obtained. In an analogous fashion, CNR was obtained from 120 kVp CT. The CNR was calculated as region of interest [(ROI) PDA-ROI of pancreas] /SD of pancreas. Wilcoxon signed rank and two sample tests were used to compare the quantitative measures from DECT to 120kVp. Bonferroni correction was applied.  

IMD images provided significantly higher CNR for PDA, than any of the other DECT energies (p<.0001). 50keV images provided significantly higher CNR for pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared to 70keV (p=0.0081). 70keV provided higher CNR than 120kVp for pancreatic parenchyma (p=0.0198). Each of the DECT energies provided significantly higher CNR for pancreatic adenocarcinoma than 120kVp. No significant differences were observed between the different DECT energies for pancreatic parenchyma CNR.

DECT IMD images provided significantly higher CNR for PDA. Compared to standard 120kvp, each of the DECT energies provided significantly higher CNR for PDA than 120kvp. Such results indicate DECT improves lesion conspicuity of PDA compared to routine 120kVp CT.

DECT with its high CNR may help in better detection and localization of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Bhosale, P, Balachandran, A, Le, O, Fox, P, Paulson, E, Tamm, E, Quantitative Comparison of Dual Energy CT vs. 120kVp CT of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Does DECT Improve CNR (Lesion Conspicuity)?.  Radiological Society of North America 2013 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, December 1 - December 6, 2013 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2013/13020749.html