Ces radiol. 2010, 64(4):276-280

Imaging of the urothelial carcinoma using dual-energy CTOriginal article

Jiří Ferda¹, Jan Baxa¹, Milan Hora², Ondřej Hes³, Boris Kreuzberg¹

¹ Klinika zobrazovacích metod LF UK a FN, Plzeň

² Urologická klinika LF UK a FN, Plzeň

³ Šiklův ústav patologické anatomie LF UK a FN, Plzeň

Aim: To asses the contribution of dual-energy CT in detection of the urothelial carcinoma.


Material and method. Nine patients with suspected tumor of urinary collecting system underwent the dual-energy CT (DECT) including four patients with massive haematuria. Data of the arterial phase were acquired by simultaneous exposition of X-rays with 140 and 80 kV, the data for venous and excretory phases were acquired by conventional way using single-energy (120 kV venous ph.; 100 kV excretory ph.). Created during DECT data analysis, the virtual unenhanced images and iodine distribution maps were used in the detection of tumorous tissue.

Results: Urothelial carcinoma was found and confirmed in seven cases. In all cases, the increased iodine uptake within the collecting system was detected during arterial phase, even if there were found blood coagula. The differentiation between tumorous tissue and clotted blood was allowed by their different behavior: no iodine uptake of iodine on iodine distribution map and higher density on virtual unenhanced images characterized clotted blood; the increased iodine uptake on iodine distribution map and low density on virtual unenhaced images characterized tumorous tissue respectively.

Conclusion: Including analysis of iodine distribution a virtual unenhanced image, the dual-energy CT is useful imaging tool in detection of the urothelial carcinoma.

Keywords: dual-energy CT, urothelial carcinoma, haematuria

Grants and funding:

Práce byla podpořena výzkumným projektem MSM 0021620819.

Accepted: November 1, 2010; Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation