Dual-energy CT: A new frontier in oncology imaging

Malignant tumors have risen to prominence as the leading threat to both life and the overall health of individuals. Precision medicine relies heavily on precise imaging. Among the plethora of imaging techniques, the advantages of dual-energy CT in tumor diagnosis and treatment are becoming increasingly pronounced. Accurate imaging evaluation of tumors involves various aspects, including diagnosis and differential diagnosis, staging and classification, assessment of treatment efficacy, and prediction of prognosis. Notably, dual-energy CT has showcased its unique advantages across these domains. In this review, we commence by offering a succinct overview of the implementation techniques and postprocessing of dual-energy CT. Then, we focus on providing a comprehensive survey of the current application of dual-energy CT in common cancers, such as central nervous system tumors, head and neck tumors, lung tumors, breast tumors, abdominal tumors, and bone tumors. Finally, we discuss the present technical constraints and prospective avenues of dual-energy CT application. As the clinical integration of dual-energy CT increases, its future outlook is poised to be expansive, potentially paving the way for routine application within clinical settings.