Purpose.　Dual-energy　CT　imaging　tends　to　suffer　from　much　lower　signal-to-noise　ratio　than　single-energy　CT.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　an　improved　anticorrelated　noise　reduction　(ACNR)　method　without　causing　cross-contamination　artifacts.　Methods.　The　proposed　algorithm　diffuses　both　basis　material　density　images　(e.　g.,　water　and　iodine)　at　the　same　time　using　a　novel　correlated　diffusion　algorithm.　The　algorithm　has　been　compared　to　the　original　ACNR　algorithm　in　a　contrast-enhanced,　IRB-approved　patient　study.　Material　density　accuracy　and　noise　reduction　are　quantitatively　evaluated　by　the　percent　density　error　and　the　percent　noise　reduction.　Results.　Both　algorithms　have　significantly　reduced　the　noises　of　basis　material　density　images　in　all　cases.　The　average　percent　noise　reduction　is　69.3%　and　66.5%　with　the　ACNR　algorithm　and　the　proposed　algorithm,　respectively.　However,　the　ACNR　algorithm　alters　the　original　material　density　by　an　average　of　13%　(or　2.18　mg/cc)　with　a　maximum　of　58.7%　(or　8.97　mg/cc)　in　this　study.　This　is　evident　in　the　water　density　images　as　massive　cross-contaminations　are　seen　in　all　five　clinical　cases.　On　the　contrary,　the　proposed　algorithm　only　changes　the　mean　density　by　2.4%　(or　0.69　mg/cc)　with　a　maximum　of　7.6%　(or　1.31　mg/cc).　The　cross-contamination　artifacts　are　significantly　minimized　or　absent　with　the　proposed　algorithm.　Conclusion.　The　proposed　algorithm　can　significantly　reduce　image　noise　present　in　basis　material　density　images　from　dual-energy　CT　imaging,　with　minimized　cross-contaminations　compared　to　the　ACNR　algorithm.