Spiral computed tomography of the liver: contrast agent pharmacokinetics and the potential for improved hepatic enhancement.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a prospective study of 131 patients to evaluate the contrast agent dose-response relationship for liver spiral computed tomography (CT) and to test the hypothesis that spiral CT scanning provides greater enhancement than does dynamic CT scanning.


METHODS
Patients were assigned to one of two control groups (dynamic CT) or to one of five experimental groups (spiral CT). Dynamic CT patients received 150 ml and spiral CT patients received either 75, 100, or 150 ml of diatrizoate meglumine. All groups had a monophasic injection rate of 2.5 ml/sec. Hepatic enhancement was compared among experimental and control groups.


RESULTS
In the experimental groups, there was a linear dose-response relationship (p < .0001) among the enhancements achieved for the three dosages. The enhancement of the last slice of liver for the spiral CT versus dynamic CT groups receiving 150 ml was significantly greater (p = .002). Peak, first liver slice, and average liver enhancement values were higher with spiral CT scanning, but the difference was not statistically significant (power > .55).


CONCLUSIONS
Using uniphasic injection rates and identical doses of contrast agent, spiral CT scanning has the advantage of improved enhancement of the last part of the liver to be imaged.
Polger
M
M
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Seltzer
S E
SE
Head
B L
BL
Savci
G
G
Silverman
S G
SG
Adams
D F
DF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine