Objective: To analyze the diagnostic performance of gemstone spectral monochromatic CT imaging in the detection and classification of
focal liver lesions in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 32 pancreatic cancer patients with 55 focal liver lesion images (19 cysts and 36 metastases) conducted
by gemstone spectral CT. We obtained the focal liver lesions and the pancreatic iodine concentration from the iodine-based material
decomposition images. This was further normalized to that of aorta. Receiver-operator characteristic curves to determine the diagnostic
sensitivities and specificities of correctly diffentiating liver metastases from cysts were calculated. Imaging results were correlated with
findings of intraoperative surgical (n = 13), imaging follow-up, ultrasound findings and percutaneous ethanol therapy (n = 19).
Results: Gemstone spectral CT played a significant role in differentiating focal liver metastases from liver cysts. The parameters we drew
could provide extra quantitative data.
Conclusion: The gemstone spectral monochromatic CT scanner provides not only the processed polychromatic images, including arterial
and portal phase images, but also extra quantitative data.
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