Optimizing contrast enhancement during helical CT of the liver: a comparison of two bolus tracking techniques.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a recently developed hardware and software system for CT scanning that generates images in real time and switches to helical CT scanning by either a visual cue or a region of interest (ROI) amplitude threshold.


METHODS
We randomly and prospectively divided 120 abdominal CT examinations into three groups. Two groups received 75 ml of contrast agent at 1.5 ml/sec. Helical CT scanning began after visualization of the contrast bolus arrival in the hepatic veins (visual cue triggering) (39 patients) or after reaching an ROI threshold (automated ROI threshold triggering) (39 patients). A third group served as a control group (42 patients) and received 150 ml of contrast agent at 1 ml/sec. Quality of hepatic enhancement was assessed objectively and subjectively. Comparisons were made after stratifying each group into three weight classes.


RESULTS
Errors occurred in 12 (31%) of 39 examinations in the group with automated ROI threshold triggering. In that group, we found a significantly (p < .04) lower mean hepatic enhancement in two of three weight categories, and a significantly (p < .04) lower mean subjective scan quality in one of three weight categories, than we found in the group with visual cue triggering.


CONCLUSIONS
Optimizing portal venous phase helical CT of the liver after a low-volume bolus of contrast agent and an injection rate of 1.5 ml/sec is best achieved by initiating helical CT scanning after visualizing the contrast bolus arrival within the liver rather than after reaching a preset attenuation threshold.
Schweiger
G D
GD
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Chang
P J
PJ
Brown
B P
BP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D007482:Iothalamate Meglumine; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; D007482:Iothalamate Meglumine