Dual Energy CT Scanning in Evaluation of the Urinary Tract

Purpose: This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current techniques and possibilities for DECT in genito-urinary imaging. Recent Findings: Datasets obtained with each DE acquisition carry different information, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative improvement of images results in a better contrast resolution and noise reduction, whereas the iodine amount in tissues can be quantified and expressed in mg/mL yielding information on tissue vascularization. Despite the concern on radiation dose exposure, DECT obviates the need of unenhanced standard scanning phase and with the monochromatic images, a higher contrast-to-noise ratio is obtained reducing artifacts such as beam hardening and pseudo-enhancement. Furthermore, DECT allows composition characterization of renal stones and helps in differentiating adrenal adenomas from non-adenomas. Summary: Dual energy technology brought considerable innovation in the field of CT imaging since its first use. Genitourinary imaging represents one of the pivotal fields of application in which researchers have tested the performance of dual energy CT (DECT).