Metastatic Window setting for CECT Liver

   What is metastatic window in CT Scan of liver and its utility




Normal CT window shows many shades of gray between the black and white. 

Example of soft tissue window for abdomen: 

    - W (width) is 500 
    - WL (window level) /C (center) is 80

Narrow CT Window, the shades of gray are reduced and the image displays more as black & white

Example of narrow window for liver: 

   - W (width) is 100 
   - WL (window level) /C (center) is 150

I use two types of metastatic window setting:


On the arterial phase, the aim is to pick up hypervascular lesion. So, make the background as dark (hypodense), so that any hyperdense lesion / focus of hypervascularity is picked up easily. To increase sensitivity, make it a thin MIP ( 5 mm or more)


On the venous phase, the aim is to pick up hypovascular lesion. So make the background as bright (hyperdense), so that any hypodense lesion / focus of hypovascularity is picked up easily. To increase sensitivity, make it a thin MIP (5 mm or more).

    Example below - comparing normal to metastatic window



References:




Prepared by Dr. Sharad Maheshwari
15.10.2022

Updated: 20.10.2022



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