Traumatic bone marrow lesions in dual-energy computed tomography

Traumatic bone marrow lesions (TBMLs) are considered to represent a range of concealed bone injuries, including haemorrhage, infarction, and localised oedema caused by trabecular microfracture occurring in the cancellous bone. If TBMLs are not managed timeously, they potentially cause a series of complications that can lead to irreversible morbidity and prolonged recovery time. This article reviews interesting image findings of bone marrow lesions in dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). In addition to combining the benefits of traditional CT imaging, DECT also reveals and identifies various structures using diverse attenuation characteristics of different radiographic spectra. Therefore, DECT has the capacity to detect TBMLs, which have traditionally been diagnosed using MRI. Through evaluating DECT virtual non-calcium maps, the detection of TBMLs is rendered easier and more efficient in some acute accidents.