Dual-energy CT revisited: a focused review of clinical use cases

Background Dual-energy CT (DECT) has been available for more than 15 years and has undergone continuous technical development and refinement. Recently, the first photon-counting CT scanner became clinically available and has the potential to further expand the possibilities of spectral imaging. Numerous studies on DECT have been published since its creation, highlighting the clinical applications of the various reconstructions enabled by DECT. Methods The aim of this focused review is to succinctly summarize basic principles and available technical concepts of DECT and to discuss established applications relevant to the daily clinical routine. Results/Conclusion DECT is instrumental for a broad variety of clinical use cases. While some DECT applications can enhance day-to-day clinical practice, others are still subject to broad-scale validation and should therefore be handled with restraint in the clinical routine.