Spiral CT of the neck: When do neck malignancies delineate best during contrast enhancement?
The aim of this study was to determine the time of best contrast of neck malignancies in contrast-enhanced CT. The CT was done in 20 patients with squamous cell carcinoma using a standard protocol (100 ml contrast agent at 2 ml/s). Dynamic series of the tumors were performed (scan interval 6 s). In all relevant structures of the neck, densities were measured to obtain time-density curves. The best tumor contrast was measured > or =50 s after the start of the injection, and the best contrast of lymph nodes < or =75 s. For staging and volume measurements of neck primaries the best achievable contrast is necessary. Using the examined single-bolus technique, spiral CT allows a combination of perfect tumor contrast with a good contrast between lymph nodes and neck vessels between 50 and 75 s after starting the injection.
Keberle
M
M
Department of Radiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Tschammler
A
A
Berning
K
K
Hahn
D
D
D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media