Utilization of virtual mono-energetic images (MonoE) derived from a dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) for the assessment of abdominal arteries in venous contrast phase scans

•SDCT provides excellent image quality at low keV levels.•SDCT enables the assessment of arteries in venous phase.•MonoE imaging from SDCT showed distinct different luminal diameters than conventional imaging. To investigate the utilization of virtual mono-energetic images (MonoE) at low kiloelectron volt (keV) levels derived from a dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) for the assessment of abdominal arteries in venous contrast phase scans using arterial phase imaging as an internal reference standard. A total of 50 patients who received arterial and venous phase imaging of the abdomen on a SDCT system were included in this study. Absolute attenuation, noise, signal- and contrast to noise ratios (SNR; CNR) as well as arterial diameters in defined landmarks were assessed. In arterial phase, conventional reconstructions (CRART) as well as MonoEART at 40keV and in venous phase, conventional reconstructions (CRVEN) as well as MonoEVEN at 70 and 40keV were investigated and intra-individual comparisons were performed. If an artery stenosis (10 patients) was present, the degree of stenosis was assessed according to the system of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET). MonoE 40keV yielded significantly higher attenuation values (in arterial as well as in venous phase) compared to CRART (p