SOMATOM Definition

SOMATOM Definition Dual Energy Scanning

Authors:

Hiroaki Tanaka MD*, Masaya Yamamoto MD*, Hideyuki Saeki MD**, Taizo Morita*, Tadashi Asami*, Terue Murakami*

*Department of Radiology, Saiseikai Matsuyama Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan
**Department of Cardiovascular Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Matsuyama Hospital, Matsuyama, Japan

History

A 70 year-old female on dialysis treatment for chronic renal failure noticed herself becoming increasingly breathless on exertion. She was referred to our department for a chest x-ray and a chest CT. Hilar enlargement was seen on the chest plain film and a mosaic perfusion pattern was seen on the chest CT images suggesting chronic pulmonary embolism. The patient was then referred for a contrast enhanced Dual Energy CT scan to evaluate the perfused blood volume (PBV) with Dual Energy Lung PBV and for a lung perfusion scintigraphy examination with 99mTc-MAA.

Diagnosis

On the Dual Energy CT images, mural thrombi were noted in the main pulmonary artery trunk as well as in peripheral vessels. The dual energy lung PBV images revealed perfusion defects in lung areas matching the location of the thrombi. The lung perfusion defects found on lung perfusion scintigraphy corresponded well with those found on the Dual Energy Lung PBV images.

Comments

With Dual Energy CT Lung PBV post-processing, contrast enhanced CT and perfused blood volume imaging can be combined. The simultaneous visualization of thrombi as well as lung perfusion defects is expected to improve the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary embolism. Structural and functional evaluation of the lung may be performed in one single scan which has the potential to reduce dose to the patient.

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Fig 1: Contrast enhanced CT: mural Thrombus in main pulmonary artery trunk

Fig 2: Contrast enhanced CT: mural Thrombus in peripheral vessel

Fig 3: Contrast enhanced CT: coronal view

Fig 4: Dual Energy CT Lung PBV: perfusion defect, axial view

Fig 5: Dual Energy CT Lung PBV: perfusion defect, coronal view

Fig 6: Lung perfusion scintigraphy image: perfusion defect

Fig 7: Lung perfusion scintigraphy image: perfusion defect

Examination Protocol (Dual Energy Lung PBV)

Scanner	SOMATOM Definition
Scan area	Thorax
Scan length	369 mm
Scan time and delay	12 s and 20 s
Scan direction	Cranio-Caudal
kV	140 kV / 80 kV
Effective mAs	56 mAs / 291 mAs
Rotation time	0.33 s
Slice collimation	0.6 mm
Reconstructed slice thickness	1.5 mm
Increment	1 mm
Kernel	D30f
CTDI	11.57 mGy
Contrast
Volume	100 ml of 300 mgI/ml
Flow Rate	3 ml/sec

The information presented in this case study is for illustration only and is not intended to be relied upon by the reader for instruction as to the practice of medicine. Any health care practitioner reading this information is reminded that they must use their own learning, training and expertise in dealing with their individual patients. This material does not substitute for that duty and is not intended by Siemens Medical Systems to be used for any purpose in that regard.

The drugs and doses mentioned herein are consistent with the approval labeling for uses and/or indications of the drug. The treating physician bears the sole responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of patients, including drugs and doses prescribed in connection with such use. The Operating Instructions must always be strictly followed when operating the CT System. The source for the technical data is the corresponding data sheets. Results may vary.