Application of dual-energy CT nonlinear blending and noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the application value of dual-energy CT（DECT） linear blending imaging（LBI），nonlinear blending imaging（NBI），and noise-optimized virtual monoenergetic imaging（VMI+） techniques in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma （SCC）.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the DECT data of 61 patients with pathologically confirmed laryngeal SCC from June 2019 to March 2022. DECT images were reconstructed using LBI with weighting factors 1 （80 kV） and 0.6（M0.6），NBI，and VMI+（40 keV and 55 keV） techniques. The five groups of images were compared in terms of objective image quality ［contrast-to-noise ratio （CNR），tumor CT value，and noise］ and subjective image quality（tumor delineation score and overall image quality score）.Results The 40 keV images had significantly higher CNR，tumor CT value，and tumor delineation score than 80 kV，M0.6，NBI，and 55 keV images（all P<0.05）. The NBI images had a significantly higher overall image quality score than the 80 kV，M0.6，40 keV，and 55 keV images（all P<0.05）. The NBI images had a significantly lower noise than the 80 kV，40 keV，and 55 keV images（all P<0.05）.Conclusion In DECT for laryngeal SCC，the VMI+（40 keV） technique can provide images with better CNR，tumor CT value，and tumor delineation，while the NBI technique can provide images with lower noise and better overall image quality.