Comparison of low kVp CT and dual-energy CT for the evaluation of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose To compare lesion conspicuity and image quality of arterial phase images obtained from low kVp (90-kVp) and dual-energy (DE) scans for the evaluation of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods This retrospective study included 229 patients with HCC who underwent either 90 kVp (n = 106) or DE scan (80- and 150-kVp with a tin filter) (n = 123) during the arterial phase. DE scans were reconstructed into a linearly blended image with a mixed ratio of 0.6 (60% 80kVp and 40% 150 kVp) and post-processed for 40 keV and 50 keV images. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of HCC to the liver and image noise was measured. Lesion conspicuity, liver parenchymal image quality, and overall image preference were assessed qualitatively by three independent radiologists. Results DE 40 keV images had the highest CNR of HCC, and DE blended images had the lowest image noise among four image sets (p = 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in mean volume CT dose index and dose-length product between DE and low kVp scan (ps > 0.05). For qualitative analyses, DE blended images had the highest scores for image quality and overall image preference (ps < 0.001). Conclusion At an equal radiation dose, DE 40 keV showed higher CNR of HCC and DE blended image showed higher image quality and image preference compared with low kVp CT.