ObjectiveTo summarize the advantages of double-layer detector spectral CT (DLCT) as compared with conventional CT in disease diagnosis and its research status in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. MethodThe literature relevant research was summarized, including the clinical application of DLCT and its clinical research in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. ResultsThe image quality of DLCT was better than that of conventional CT examination. Its virtual non-contrast could display gastric cancer lesions and evaluate lymph node metastasis. The number of CT scans of patient was reduced by DLCT, correspondingly the radiation dose received by patients was reduced, and the examination time of patient was shortened. The iodine uptake in the tissues could visually be observed by the iodine concentration map in the DLCT and be quantitatively analyzed, which could provide a new option for noninvasive evaluation of angiogenesis in the gastric cancer. The DLCT scanning provided a material decomposition image, the different iodine absorption of normal gastric mucosa and gastric cancer could be reflected by the material decomposition image. The enhancement degree and blood supply of lesions could be effectively reflected by quantitative measurement of iodine concentration and thus the benign and malignant changes of the gastric diseases were effectively identified. The DLCT could distinguish the structure of the gastric wall, which could show the depth of invasion of malignant gastric lesions to the gastric wall and whether the adjacent tissues and organs were involved or not. Through the homology analysis of abnormal lymph nodes and suspicious metastases in the abdominal cavity through the related parameters of the DLCT could more accurately determine the clinical TNM stage of the gastric cancer before surgery. ConclusionsIn recent years, DLCT has shown a better morphological diagnostic efficiency than conventional CT in clinical application. Its virtual non-contrast, iodine concentration, effective atomic number, and other parameters characteristics make it show obvious advantages in gastric cancer, such as evaluation of angiogenesis of gastric cancer, differentiation of benign and malignant gastric diseases, clinical staging of gastric cancer, and other applications. In future, with more usable parameters research and continuous accumulation of clinical application about DLCT in clinic, which can better serve clinical work.