Hypodense liver lesions in patients with hepatic steatosis: do we profit from dual-energy computed tomography?

Purpose: To evaluate dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging of hypodense liver lesions in patients with hepatic steatosis, having a high incidence in the general population and among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.Methods: One hundred and five patients with hepatic steatosis (liver parenchyma <40 HU)...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:European Radiology Vol. 25; no. 12; pp. 3567 - 3577
Main Authors: Nattenmüller, Johanna, Hosch, Waldemar, Nguyen, Tri-Thien, Skornitzke, Stephan, Jöres, Andreas, Grenacher, Lars, Kauczor, Hans-Ulrich, Sommer, Christof, Stiller, Wolfram, Sommer, Christof M
Format: diagnostic images research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Dec2015
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=110814254&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 110814254
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        09387994
        NPH
      jtl: European Radiology
      issn: 09387994
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Dec2015
      vid: 25
      iid: 12
      pid: 237
      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
    artinfo:
      ui:
        110814254
        110814254
        NLM25981220
        110814254
        10.1007/s00330-015-3772-6
        NLM25981220
        110814254
      ppf: 3567
      ppct: 10
      formats:
        fmt:
          @attributes:
            type: P
      tig:
        atl: Hypodense liver lesions in patients with hepatic steatosis: do we profit from dual-energy computed tomography?
      aug:
        au:
          Nattenmüller, Johanna
          Hosch, Waldemar
          Nguyen, Tri-Thien
          Skornitzke, Stephan
          Jöres, Andreas
          Grenacher, Lars
          Kauczor, Hans-Ulrich
          Sommer, Christof
          Stiller, Wolfram
          Sommer, Christof M
        affil: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (DIR), University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110 69120 Heidelberg Germany
      sug:
        subj:
          Tomography, X-Ray Computed Methods
          Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted Methods
          Liver Neoplasms Radiography
          Fatty Liver Radiography
          Radiographic Image Enhancement Methods
          Radiographic Image Enhancement
          Sensitivity and Specificity
          Observer Bias
          Aged
          Analysis of Variance
          Prospective Studies
          Male
          Female
          Liver Neoplasms Complications
          Contrast Media
          Liver Radiography
          Fatty Liver Complications
          Human
          Aged: 65+ years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Purpose: To evaluate dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging of hypodense liver lesions in patients with hepatic steatosis, having a high incidence in the general population and among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.Methods: One hundred and five patients with hepatic steatosis (liver parenchyma <40 HU) underwent contrast-enhanced DECT with reconstruction of pure iodine (PI), optimum contrast (OC), 80 kVp, and 120 kVp-equivalent data sets. Image noise (IN), lesion to liver signal to noise (SNR) and contrast to noise (CNR) ratios were quantitatively analysed; image quality was rated on a 5-point scale (1, excellent; 2, good; 3, fair; 4, poor; 5, non-diagnostic) by two independent reviewers.Results: In 21 patients with hypodense liver lesions, IN was lowest in PI followed by 120 kVp-equivalent and OC, and highest in 80 kVp. SNR was highest in PI (1.30), followed by 120 kVp-equivalent (0.72) and 80 kVp (0.63), and lowest in OC (0.55). CNR was highest in 120 kVp-equivalent (4.95), followed by OC (4.55) and 80 kVp (4.14), and lowest in PI (3.63). The 120 kVp-equivalent series exhibited best overall qualitative image score (1.88), followed by OC (1.98), 80 kVp (3.00) and PI (3.67).Conclusion: In our study, the 120 kVp-equivalent series was best suited for visualization of hypodense lesions within steatotic liver parenchyma, while using DECT currently seems to offer no additional diagnostic advantage.Key Points: • Hepatic steatosis has high incidence in the general population and following chemotherapy. • Hypodense liver lesions can be obscured by steatotic liver parenchyma in CT. • Low kV p -CT shows no advantage in detecting hypodense lesions in steatotic livers. • Additional DECT image information does not improve visualization of hypodense lesions in steatosis. • 120 kV p -equivalent imaging yields best quantitative and qualitative image analysis results.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        diagnostic images
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N