Time-course characterization of the computed tomography contrast enhancement of an iodinated blood-pool contrast agent in mice using a volumetric flat-panel equipped computed tomography scanner.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the time-course of computed tomography (CT) contrast enhancement of an iodinated blood-pool contrast agent.


METHODS
Five C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized, imaged at baseline, and given an iodinated blood-pool contrast agent. Micro-CT scans were acquired at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after injection. The mean CT number was determined in a region of interest in 7 organs.


RESULTS
The CT contrast enhancement was plotted as a function of time for each organ. We identified an imaging window immediately after injection suitable for visualizing the vascular system and a second imaging window at 24 hours for visualizing liver and spleen.


CONCLUSIONS
A single injection of the blood-pool contrast agent can be used for dual-phase investigations of the vasculature (t = 0 hours) and liver (t = 24 hours), which can be applied to studies of liver tumors or disease.
Ford
Nancy L
NL
Imaging Research Laboratories, Robarts Research Institute; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Graham
Kevin C
KC
Groom
Alan C
AC
Macdonald
Ian C
IC
Chambers
Ann F
AF
Holdsworth
David W
DW
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D017613:Iodine Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014781:Viscera / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism
D003287:Contrast Media; D017613:Iodine Compounds