Dual energy CT (DECT) has evolved into a commonly applied imaging technique in clinical routine due to its unique post-processing opportunities for improved evaluation of all body areas. Reconstruc...

Color-coded virtual noncalcium images optimized for the analysis of intervertebral disks show substantially higher diagnostic accuracy for the detection of lumbar disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement in comparison to standard CT. PurposeTo assess the diagnostic performance of dual-energy CT with reconstruction of virtual noncalcium (VNCa) images for the detection of lumbar disk herniation compared with standard CT image reconstruction.Materials and MethodsFor this retrospective study, 41 patients (243 intervertebral disks; overall mean age, 68 years; 24 women [mean age, 68 years] and 17 men [mean age, 68 years]) underwent clinically indicated third-generation, dual-source, dual-energy CT and 3.0-T MRI within 2 weeks between March 2017 and January 2018. Six radiologists, blinded to clinical and MRI information, independently evaluated conventional grayscale dual-energy CT series for the presence and degree of lumbar disk herniation and spinal nerve root impingement. After 8 weeks, readers reevaluated examinations by using color-coded VNCa reconstructions. MRI evaluated by two separate experienced readers, blinded to clinical and dual-energy CT information, served as the standard of reference. Sensitivity and specificity were the pr...