CT is a diagnostic tool with many clinical applications. The CT voxel intensity is related to the magnitude of X-ray attenuation, which is not unique to a given material. Substances with different chemical compositions can be represented by similar voxel intensities, making the classification of different tissue types challenging. Compared to the conventional singleenergy CT, spectral CT is an emerging technology offering superior material differentiation, which is achieved using the energy dependence of X-ray attenuation in any material. A specific form of spectral CT is dual-energy imaging, in which an additional X-ray attenuation measurement is obtained at a second X-ray energy. Dual-energy CT has been implemented in clinical settings with great success. This paper reviews the theoretical basis and practical implementation of spectral/dualenergy CT.

Dual-energy CT (DECT) provides insights into the material properties of tissues and can differentiate between tissues with similar attenuation on conventional single-energy imaging. In the conventional CT scanner, differences in the X-ray attenuation between adjacent structures are dependent on the atomic number of the materials involved, whereas in DECT, the difference in the attenuation is dependent on both the atomic number and electron density. The basic principle of DECT is to obtain two datasets with different X-ray energy levels from the same anatomic region and material decomposition based on attenuation differences at different energy levels. In this article, we discuss the clinical applications of DECT and its potential robust improvements in performance and postprocessing capabilities.

Dual-energy CT (DECT) provides insights into the material properties of tissues and can differentiate between tissues with similar attenuation on conventional single-energy imaging. In the conventional CT scanner, differences in the X-ray attenuation between adjacent structures are dependent on the atomic number of the materials involved, whereas in DECT, the difference in the attenuation is dependent on both the atomic number and electron density. The basic principle of DECT is to obtain two datasets with different X-ray energy levels from the same anatomic region and material decomposition based on attenuation differences at different energy levels. In this article, we discuss the clinical applications of DECT and its potential robust improvements in performance and postprocessing capabilities.

A 59-year-old woman who had previously undergone an anatomic left total shoulder arthroplasty presented with increasing left shoulder pain and significant reduction in motion of the left shoulder joint. No evidence of prosthetic loosening or periprosthetic fracture was detected on the radiographs or fluoroscopic arthrogram images. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) images revealed evidence of loosening of the glenoid component and secondary rotator cuff failure. This case illustrates how a combination of detailed clinical history, careful physical examination and DECT arthrogram evaluation may be used to identify complications of an anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder ; adverse effects ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prosthesis Design ; Prosthesis Failure ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reoperation ; Rotator Cuff ; diagnostic imaging ; Shoulder Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery