BACKGROUND: Optimal contrast enhancement is crucial for the detection of coronary artery stenoses and atherosclerotic changes in coronary CT angiography (CTA). PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of using the cardiac output (CO) obtained from the test bolus injection data-set (COtest) as a factor in contrast injection rate revision of the following coronary CTA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The test bolus injection data-sets of 52 consecutive coronary CTAs were examined. COtest was calculated from the test bolus data-set. Aortic peak enhancement (APE) was measured on the following coronary CTA. We simulated the APE at a fixed contrast injection rate of 4 mL/s (simAPE) in each patient. RESULTS: The ranges of COtest and simAPE were 2.82-7.56 L/min and 194-527 Hounsfield Units, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation (R = -0.802, P < 0.001) between simAPE and COtest. CONCLUSION: COtest can be used for injection rate revision on coronary CTA.
BACKGROUND: Optimal contrast enhancement is crucial for the detection of coronary artery stenoses and atherosclerotic changes in coronary CT angiography (CTA). PURPOSE: To demonstrate the feasibility of using the cardiac output (CO) obtained from the test bolus injection data-set (COtest) as a factor in contrast injection rate revision of the following coronary CTA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The test bolus injection data-sets of 52 consecutive coronary CTAs were examined. COtest was calculated from the test bolus data-set. Aortic peak enhancement (APE) was measured on the following coronary CTA. We simulated the APE at a fixed contrast injection rate of 4 mL/s (simAPE) in each patient. RESULTS: The ranges of COtest and simAPE were 2.82-7.56 L/min and 194-527 Hounsfield Units, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation (R = -0.802, P < 0.001) between simAPE and COtest. CONCLUSION: COtest can be used for injection rate revision on coronary CTA.