Myocardial late enhancement and extracellular volume with single-energy, dual-energy, and photon-counting computed tomography

Abstract

Computed tomography late enhancement (CT-LE) is emerging as a non-invasive technique for cardiac diagnosis with wider accessibility compared to MRI, despite its typically lower contrast-to-noise ratio. Optimizing CT-LE image quality necessitates a thorough methodology addressing contrast administration, timing, and radiation dose, alongside a robust understanding of extracellular volume (ECV) quantification methods. This review summarizes CT-LE protocols, clinical utility, and advances in ECV measurement through both single-energy and dual-energy CT. It also highlights photon-counting detector CT technology as an innovative means to potentially improve image quality and reduce radiation exposure.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Dual-energy CT; Extracellular volume; Late enhancement; Photon-counting detector CT.