Combining UHR PCCT with low-keV virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) improved visualization of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), peripancreatic vessels, and fine pancreatic anatomy; the study identified 0.4-mm slices at 45 keV as the best overall reconstruction strategy for preoperative assessment.
40-keV VMI produced the highest quantitative CNR and SNR for tumors and peripancreatic vessels, while 45–50 keV at 0.4-mm slice thickness achieved better qualitative visualization of fine anatomical structures, balancing spectral contrast enhancement with the high spatial resolution of PCCT.
The combination of high spatial resolution and spectral information from PCCT may improve tumor–vessel delineation and visualization of fine structures relevant to PDAC staging and surgical planning, demonstrating the complementary value of UHR acquisition and spectral reconstruction in abdominal oncology imaging.
