Computed tomographic enhancement of the liver, liver abscesses, spleen, and major vessels with perfluorooctylbromide emulsion. Influence of dosage and injection velocity in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
Computed tomographic (CT) enhancement of the liver, liver abscess, spleen, and major vessels was investigated between 2 and 48 hours after intravenous administration of perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB emulsion) in an animal model of 63 rabbits.


METHODS
Twenty-one animals received 3 g/kg PFOB as a fast bolus injection. Using a slow infusion rate, the same number of animals received either the same dose (3 g/kg) or half the dose (1.5 g/kg).


RESULTS
Vascular enhancement was best after bolus injection of 3 g/kg emulsion. The density peak occurred after 2 hours. A continuous enhancement of approximately 100 Hounsfield units (HU) was observed up to 24 hours in the animals receiving 3 g/kg, independent of the injection velocity. A density peak of 70 HU was found 2 hours after the infusion of 1.5 g/kg. The density peak of the liver, the spleen, and the abscess wall was observed 48 hours after emulsion administration in all groups receiving 3 g/kg. The peak was approximately 150 HU for the liver, 400 HU for the spleen, and 150 HU for the abscess wall. In animals receiving only 1.5 g/kg perflubron, the peak density of the abscess wall was 132 HU after 12 hours, approximately 80 HU for the liver between 2 and 48 hours, and approximately 280 HU after 48 hours for the spleen.


CONCLUSIONS
PFOB emulsion produces the highest vascular enhancement within the first 2 hours after the bolus injection of 3 g/kg. For spleen and abscess wall imaging, even the relatively low dose of 1.5 g/kg produced a satisfactory enhancement level for a significant length of time, whereas liver enhancement was best after administration of the higher dose.
Adam
G
G
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology, Aachen, Germany.
Günther
R W
RW
Schiffer
C
C
Görtz
H
H
Prescher
A
A
Scherer
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004655:Emulsions; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011817:Rabbits; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D003287:Contrast Media; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; C003072:perflubron