Anders Hoegh
Odense University Hospital, Denmark
Title: Differentiation between benign and malignant rectal tumors by dual energy CT; A pilot study
Biography
Biography: Anders Hoegh
Abstract
Aim: Aim of this study is to assess the performance of Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) in the differentiation between malignant and benign tumors in the rectum.
Methods: We enrolled eight patients with rectal tumors suspected of rectal cancer during colonoscopy. All patients underwent Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Endo-rectal Ultrasound (ERUS) for clinical staging. Furthermore, all patients underwent DECT of the pelvis. The eight patients had histopathological verified benign adenomas after transanal endoscopic microsurgery resection (TEM). The eight patients were matched with eight consecutively selected patients with histopathologically verified malignant rectal tumors. The DECT images were analyzed to assess the difference between malignant and benign rectal tumors. Experienced radiologist reviewed all DECT images. In each tumor, we applied three regions of interest (ROIs) for the acquisition of the DECT unique quantitative parameters; the mean atomic mass (effective Z value), iodine concentration, dual energy ratio (DER) and dual energy index (DEI) was determined in both groups.
Results: The comparison of all four quantitative parameters among the two groups showed a higher value of effective Z, iodine concentration and DER in malignant compared to benign tumors. In the case of the DEI, the values were lower in malignant tumors compared to benign tumors.
Conclusion: Dual energy CT may have a potential to differentiate between malignant and benign rectal tumors by using its unique and objective quantitative parameters