M-S Walgraeve1, L Pyfferoen2, K Van De Moortele2, F Zanca3, D Bielen4, J W Casselman5. 1. Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging, AZ St-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Ruddershove 10, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; Department of Radiology, UZ Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: marie-sofie.walgraeve@uzleuven.be. 2. Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging, AZ St-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Ruddershove 10, 8000 Bruges, Belgium. 3. GE Healthcare, 283 Rue de la Minière, 78530 Buc, France; Palindromo Consulting, Willem de Croylaan 51, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium. 4. Department of Radiology, UZ Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 505, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 5. Department of Radiology-Medical Imaging, AZ St-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Ruddershove 10, 8000 Bruges, Belgium; Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a patient-tailored contrast volume protocol on portal venous phase abdominal CT-images compared to a fixed volume protocol in daily radiological practice. METHOD: Data of 77 patients who underwent two contrast-enhanced CT-examinations were collected. The first examination was performed with a fixed contrast volume (95 ml), the follow-up examination was performed with a patient-tailored contrast volume based on patient's BSA and heart rate. The patient-tailored volume was calculated by a software application integrated in the interface of the injection pump. Two independent radiologists assessed subjective and objective image quality. Differences in enhancement and contrast volumes between both protocols were analysed. RESULTS: Despite a significant contrast volume reduction in women and in patients with low to normal BMI, enhancement was more consistent over different BMI-categories in the patient-tailored contrast volume protocol and there was no significant difference in subjective image quality between both injection protocols. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-tailored contrast volume protocol based on BSA and heart rate can be considered in daily radiological practice to decrease contrast volumes in women and in low to normal BMI patients and to achieve more consistent contrast enhancement across different BMI-categories in venous phase abdominal CT.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a patient-tailored contrast volume protocol on portal venous phase abdominal CT-images compared to a fixed volume protocol in daily radiological practice. METHOD: Data of 77 patients who underwent two contrast-enhanced CT-examinations were collected. The first examination was performed with a fixed contrast volume (95 ml), the follow-up examination was performed with a patient-tailored contrast volume based on patient's BSA and heart rate. The patient-tailored volume was calculated by a software application integrated in the interface of the injection pump. Two independent radiologists assessed subjective and objective image quality. Differences in enhancement and contrast volumes between both protocols were analysed. RESULTS: Despite a significant contrast volume reduction in women and in patients with low to normal BMI, enhancement was more consistent over different BMI-categories in the patient-tailored contrast volume protocol and there was no significant difference in subjective image quality between both injection protocols. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-tailored contrast volume protocol based on BSA and heart rate can be considered in daily radiological practice to decrease contrast volumes in women and in low to normal BMI patients and to achieve more consistent contrast enhancement across different BMI-categories in venous phase abdominal CT.