Noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging technology of the third-generation dual-source computed tomography and its clinical applications

作者：Yanwei Zeng, Daoying Geng, Jun Zhang · 发表于：Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.21037/qims-20-1196 · 被引用次数：26 · 研究领域：Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging、Radiation Dose and Imaging、Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging

The third-generation dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) is among the most advanced imaging methods. It employs noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI+) technology. It uses the frequency-split method to extract high-contrast image information from low-energy images and low-noise information from images reconstructed at an optimal energy level, combining them to obtain the final image with improved quality. This review is the first to summarize the results of clinical studies that primarily and recently evaluated the VMI+ technique based on tumor, blood vessel, and other lesion classification. We aim to assist radiologists in quickly selecting the appropriate energy level when performing image reconstruction for superior image quality in clinical work and providing several ideas for future scientific research of the VMI+ technique. Presently, VMI+ reconstruction is mostly used for images of various tumors or blood vessels, including coronary plaques, coronary stents, deep vein thromboses, pulmonary embolisms (PEs), active arterial hemorrhages, and endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair. In addition, VMI+ has been used for imaging children's heads, liver lesions, pancreatic lacerations, and reducing metal artifacts. Regarding the reconstruction at the optimal energy level, the VMI+ technique yielded a higher image quality than the pre-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) technique and single-energy CT. Moreover, either low concentrations of contras...