Contrast enhanced CT imaging as part of performing PET-CT: It allows you to avoid performing additional diagnostic CT scans and therefore reduces patient dose

Learning Objectives To understand: 1. The role of computed tomography (CT) as part of obtaining a PET-CT. 2. How attenuation correction works. 3. Why contrast enhanced CT allows for a viable attenuation correction map. 4. How to limit the total radiation dose to the patient (reducing it by about 25%) as part of the imaging process, in part by avoiding an additional post non contrast enhanced PET-CT, enhanced CT scan. 5. The role of CT for additional information beyond that obtained by PET alone, and why contrast enhanced CT is more optimal for that purpose than non contrast enhanced CT.

There has been some controversy as to the propriety and utility of using contrast enhanced CT as part of routine PET-CT. We have had good success with the contrast enhanced PET-CT technique and without diagnostically significant artifacts in the vast majority of cases. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for performing another contrast enhanced diagnostic CT scan to follow. This reduction of radiation dose, which can be over 25%, is also very important. This will allow for reduced cost and radiation dose as part of the overall imaging process