To evaluate the clinical value of dual-energy CT(DECT) in the detection of green-coloured voxels in toenails in patients with gout using DECT.
A total of 53 patients with gout could be included in the study composed of 45 men and 8 women, and 33 individuals without gout were regarded as control group. There were no significant differences in gender and age between two groups. DECT were performed for the both feet, DE (80 kV and 140 kV) datasets were reconstructed via gout-recognition software, the pseudo-color images group as the postprocessed group.Imagings were reviewed independently by two senior radiologists. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis with the SPSS 17.0 software.
In the gout group, DECT scans revealed a total of 266 areas of green-coloured voxels in 53 patients (relevance ratio 50.2% (266/530)); in the control group, 27 areas of green-coloured voxels were detected in 33 patients (relevance ratio 8.2% (27/330)), the differences had statistical significance (P<0.01). In the gout group, the green-coloured voxels were detected only in the nail groove in 8 patients which compared with 2 the control group, the differences had statistical significance (P<0.01).
DECT gout recognition technology can detect green-coloured voxels of monosodium urate in the toenails, with a great potential in clinical diagnosis.