Dual-energy CT after radiofrequency ablation of liver, kidney, and lung lesions: a review of features

Insights into Imaging

Table 1 Early and long-term findings after RF ablation of liver lesions in successful and unsuccessful results, with the added value of the DECT technique

		Early findings	Long-term findings
Successful	General findings	Non-enhancing area on contrast-enhanced CT Regular hypervascular peripheral rim Central hyperattenuation is indecisive for success	Regular borders of the ablation zone Reduction in size
Successful	Added value of DECT	Iodine void area Improved contrast on the 40-keV images Excellent conspicuity of the ablation zone on iodine-coded images	Sharp depiction of the ablation zone’s edge on iodine images
Unsuccessful	General findings	Irregular rim Focal nodular thickening at the border	Focal hypervascular nodule (HCC) Nodular attenuation differences around the ablation zone (hypovascular metastasis)
Unsuccessful	Added value of DECT	Higher residual tumour-to-liver contrast on iodine images Increased attenuation of iodine on the low-keV images for detection of subtle residual tumour	Better contrast between LTP and liver parenchyma on iodine images