Substance HU

Air −1000
−120 to
Fat
−90
Soft tissue on contrast +100 to
CT +300
+300 to
Cancellous
+400
Bone
+1800 to
Cortical
+1900
+75 to
First hours
+100
Subdural After 3 +65 to
hematoma days +85
After 10- +35 to
14 days +40
+13 to
Unclotted
+50
Other blood
+50 to
Clotted
+75]

Transudate +2 to +15
Pleural
effusion
Exudate +4 to +33

Chyle −30
Water 0

Urine -5 to +15

Bile -5 to +15

CSF 15

Other 0 or +20, to +40

fluids Abscess / Pus
or +45

0] - 130 ("high
Mucus attenuating" at
over 70 HU)

Parenchyma Lung -700 to −600[17]

 Kidney +20 to +45[2]

Liver 60 ± 6[18]
Lymph
+10 to +20[19]
nodes

Muscle +35 to +55[2]

+20 to +40 in
children[20]

Thymus

+20 to +120 in
adolescents[20]

White
+20 to +30
matter
Grey
+37 to +45
matter
Cholesterol
+30 to +100[21]
stone
Gallstone
Bilirubin
+90 to +120[21]
stone

Windowpane
500
glass

Aluminum,
tarmac, car
window
+2,100 to +2,300
glass, bottle
glass, and
other rocks
Foreign
body[22]
Limestone 2,8
Copper 14
Silver 17
Steel 20

Gold, steel, +30,000 (upper

and brass measurable limit)

Earwax <0