Italian radiologists and dual-energy CT: a state of the art from a shared document by the computed tomography subspecialty section of the Italian society of radiology.

Objective: The main objective was to assess the geographical distribution and main areas of use of dual-energy CT (DECT) scanners in Italy prior to the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) within the Next Generation EU (NGEU) framework. Secondary objectives included the level of knowledge of DECT among radiologists and some possible solutions to maximize its use.

Methods: Between February and March 2022, an anonymous questionnaire was conducted among the members of the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), using the Google form platform.

Results: A total of 261 radiologists (mean age 41 ± 11.7 years) from 90 Italian cities participated in the questionnaire. 42% of them worked in an academic center, and diagnostic imaging was the main area of work for most participants (87%). Most radiologists had some knowledge gap, especially those who did not have a DECT scanner available in their hospital (48.3%). Weekly use of DECT protocols varied widely between centers. Oncological imaging (70.4%) was the main area of use. Radiologists use DECT to improve contrast resolution (65.9%), characterize materials (64.4%), and reduce the amount of contrast agent (60%). 91.1% of participants reported that DECT improved their diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusion: DECT scanners have become increasingly available in Italy in recent years, and their number is expected to increase with the NRRP. There is a wide variation in their use and in the expertise of radiologists, leading to a huge untapped potential, that can be improved by specific training. A similar questionnaire will be conducted at the end of the NRRP in 2027.