Perfluoroctyl bromide as a blood pool contrast agent for computed tomographic angiography.
OBJECTIVE
We determined whether perfluoroctyl bromide (perflubron) could be used as a computed tomography (CT) angiographic agent by studying vessel visibility (celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery [SMA], and renal arteries) with spiral CT and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions.


METHODS
Five rhesus monkeys were examined with a perflubron emulsion (90% [w/v] perfluorochemical; administered intravenously at a dose of 1.5 ml/kg and at a rate of 0.5 ml/sec. Spiral CT was performed immediately and at 5 hr after injection. Three dimensional images of the aorta at the level of the celiac artery, SMA, and renal arteries were reconstructed and blindly rated 0-4 (0 = not seen; 4 = excellent visualization) by two observers.


RESULTS
All the vessels had the best ratings immediately after injection: celiac artery, 2.8 +/- 0.42; SMA, 2.7 +/- 0.48; left renal artery, 2.1 +/- 0.99; and right renal artery, 1.2 +/- 1.03. The ratings after the 5-hr delay were as follows: celiac artery, 1.3 +/- 1.34; SMA, 1.5 +/- 1.08; left renal artery, 1.5 +/- 0.97; and right renal artery, 1.2 +/- 0.79.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiral CT angiography with a perflubron emulsion successfully demonstrated all vessels immediately and at 5 hr after contrast agent infusion. Further refinements of the dose, rate, and reconstruction technique are expected to increase vessel visibility over this wide imaging window.
Fruman
S A
SA
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Harned
R K
RK
Marcus
D
D
Kaufman
S
S
Swenson
R B
RB
Bernardino
M E
ME
D000792:Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001769:Blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; C003072:perflubron