Dual-energy CT (DECT) allows for the reconstruction of supplementary information during the CT simulation process.  The additional information gained through these image reconstructions has potential to aid in several aspects of the radiation therapy process.  Improvements in target and OAR delineation have been well established via monoenergetic images of the pancreas, liver, and head and neck.  Moreover, DECT has shown promise to aid in both tumor characterization as well as treatment response assessment.  Finally, DECT may play a role in functional normal tissue segmentation in the radiation therapy process. Clinical experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has demonstrated the importance of fully characterizing a DECT system including the corresponding post-processing software. A thorough commissioning can inform clinical applications and provide insight into the limitations of each DECT modality.

Short Bio: I have a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Idaho and a Ph.D. in Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  I currently live in Madison, Wisconsin with my husband and two children, where I work as an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Oncology.  My clinical and academic focus is in brachytherapy and imaging for radiation therapy, specifically CT simulation.