Progress of dual-energy computed tomography in staging rectal cancer

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) uses the virtual monochromatic spectral images, the material decomposition images, and spectral curves to quantitatively evaluate the iodine concentrations and spectral curves of the tumor, mesorectal fat, and lymph nodes for accurately identifying the mesorectal fat invasion, metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes. DECT and other imaging examination methods can complement each other in improving the accuracy when preoperatively staging rectal cancer. This article reviews the principle of DECT and its progress in preoperatively staging rectal cancer. (authors)