Dual Energy has significant potential for improving the conspicuity of chest pathology by removing the bone structures and for improving specificity by providing calcification information in the bone image.

• With Dual Energy calcified and non-calcified nodules can be notably differentiated
• Dual Energy might reduce the need for CT exams due to better identification of calcification in lesions
• Workflow efficiency due to high-speed acquisition and processing

Dual Energy is an imaging technique in which a low-kVp image and a high-kVp image are acquired in rapid succession. The acquired images are processed to create a soft-tissue image and a bone image, which are provided in addition to the standard image. Dual energy subtraction can be used for chest and for abdomen imaging

Workflow:

At one push of the exposure button the system performs two exposures within a fraction of a second, one at high kV and another at low kV. A software algorithm separates the information and generates three images:

> The routine radiographic image
> A soft tissue image with the bones “subtracted”
> An image of the bones and any calcified structures

In a few seconds, Dual Energy subtraction can help eliminate obstructions from overlying bones while providing additional information on calcifications in chest pathology studies.

GE Healthcare’s digital technology provided by the GE Healthcare flat panel detector allows a PA/AP chest exam to be performed almost simultaneously. Dual Energy subtraction is available on the Definium™ 8000 and Definium™ 6000 digital radiographic imaging systems.