Utilisation of virtual non-contrast images and virtual mono-energetic images acquired from dual-layer spectral CT for renal cell carcinoma: image quality and radiation dose

Background Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common renal malignant tumour. We evaluated the potential value and dose reduction of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images and virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) from dual-layer spectral CT (DL-CT) in the diagnosis of RCC. Results Sixty-two patients with pathologically confirmed RCC who underwent contrast-enhanced DL-CT were retrospectively analysed. For the comparison between true non-contrast (TNC) and VNC images of the excretory phase, the attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and subjective image quality of tumours and different abdominal organs and tissues were evaluated. To compare corticomedullary phase images and low keV VMIs (40 to 100 keV) from the nephrographic phase, the attenuation, image noise, SNR and subjective lesion visibility of the tumours and renal arteries were evaluated. For the tumours, significant differences were not observed in attenuation, noise or SNR between TNC and VNC images ( p > 0.05). For the abdominal organs and tissues, except for fat, the difference in attenuation was 100% within 15 HU and 96.78% within 10 HU. The subjective image quality of TNC and VNC images was equivalent ( p > 0.05). The attenuation of lesions in 40 keV VMIs and renal arteries in 60 keV VMIs were similar to those in the corticomedullary images ( p > 0.05). The subjective lesion visibility in low keV VMIs is slightly lower than that in the corticomedullary images ( p < 0.05). Using VNC and VMIs instead of TNC and corticomedullary phase images could decrease the radiation dose by 50.5%. Conclusion VNC images and VMIs acquired from DL-CT can maintain good image quality and decrease the radiation dose for diagnosis of RCC.