Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability in children ages 1-18, with blunt trauma causing the majority of abdominal injuries. For radiologists, cases of trauma elicit the necessity of timely reads to determine if a patient requires immediate surgical intervention, or is a candidate for conservative, non-operative management. Spectral Dual-Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) obtains raw data at two energy spectra which by virtue of material decomposition can identify, isolate and or quantify iodine, pure calcium, and uric acid. Multiple image sets can be generated from a single scan allowing both standard anatomic and material-specific analysis. This allows accurate demonstration and grading of solid organ injury, differentiation between acute hematoma from ongoing vascular extravasation, detection of subtle injuries and visualization of compromised vascular structures all of which are imperative in determining the proper course of treatment in the acute trauma setting. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2023 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2023

Authors: Williams Avery, Groth Nicholas, Southard Richard

Keywords: Spectral CT, Abdominal injury, Solid organ injury

PURPOSE: Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability in children ages 1-18, with abdominal trauma accounting for a significant patient population. Prompt identification of bowel and mesenteric injury in the setting of blunt trauma and penetrating injuries is important to avoid significant complications that may arise from delayed diagnosis. Spectral Dual-Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) obtains raw data at two energy spectra which by virtue of material decomposition can identify, isolate and or quantify iodine, pure calcium, and uric acid. Multiple image sets can be generated from a single scan allowing both anatomic and material-specific analysis. The use of DECT can improve detection and accurate grading of solid organ injury, aid in defining active hemorrhage, and increase visibility of altered bowel wall enhancement, ischemia, necrosis, and inflammation which provides critical information to inform the course of treatment in emergent settings. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2023 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2023

Authors: Groth Nicholas, Williams Avery, Southard Richard

Keywords: Dual Energy, Computed Tomography, Bowel Injury