Improved uniformity of aortic enhancement with customized contrast medium injection protocols at CT angiography.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
PURPOSE: To compare the uniformity of aortoiliac opacification obtained from uniphasic contrast medium injections versus individualized biphasic injections at computed tomographic (CT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent CT angiography. In 16 patients (group 1), 120 mL of contrast material was administered at a flow rate of 4 mL/sec. In the other 16 patients (group 2), biphasic injection protocols were computed by using mathematic deconvolution of each patient's time-attenuation response to a standardized test injection. Attenuation uniformity was quantified as the "plateau deviation" of enhancement values, which were calculated as the SD of the time-contiguous attenuation values observed during the 30-second scanning period. RESULTS: Group 2 patients received between 77 and 165 mL (mean, 115 mL) of contrast medium. Initial flow rates ranged from 4.1 to 10.0 mL/sec (mean, 6.8 mL/sec) for the first 4-6 seconds; continuing flow rates ranged from 2.0 to 4.8 mL/sec (mean, 3.1 mL/sec) for the remaining 24-26 seconds. The plateau deviation was significantly smaller in group 2 patients (19 HU) versus group 1 patients (38 HU, P <.001). CONCLUSION: At CT angiography, tailored biphasic injections led to more uniform aortoiliac enhancement, compared with standard uniphasic injections of contrast medium.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Fleischmann, D; Rubin, GD; Bankier, AA; Hittmair, K
Published Date
- February 2000
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 214 / 2
Start / End Page
- 363 - 371
PubMed ID
- 10671582
Pubmed Central ID
- 10671582
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0033-8419
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1148/radiology.214.2.r00fe18363
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States