Multi-detector row CT of the head and neck: comparison of different volumes of contrast material with and without a saline chaser.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different volumes of contrast material with and without a saline chaser on tissue enhancement in multidetector row CT (MDCT) of the head and neck.


METHODS
In a blind prospective fashion, 120 patients were randomized into the following four groups: group 1, 80 ml contrast material administered at a flow rate of 2.0 ml/s; group 2, 80 ml followed by 40 ml saline at 2.0 ml/s; group 3, 60 ml at 1.5 ml/s; and group 4, 60 ml followed by 30 ml saline at 1.5 ml/s. The attenuation values of the carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and muscle were measured at an interval of 1.5 s in each patient. The degree of perivenous artifacts was subjectively assessed.


RESULTS
Mean attenuation values in the carotid artery and internal jugular vein were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4. The width of the diagnostic window (both carotid and jugular enhancement >150 HU) were significantly longer in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4. The addition of a saline chaser did not result in improved vascular enhancement or a wider diagnostic window, but reduced perivenous artifacts, compared with using contrast material alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduction of contrast material from 80 to 60 ml results in insufficient enhancement of neck vessels. In addition, the benefit of a saline chaser technique is not obvious except for its ability to reduce perivenous artifacts.
Yoon
Dae Young
DY
Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, 445 Gil-dong Kangdong-Gu, Seoul 134-701, South Korea. evee0914@chollian.net
You
Su Yeon
SY
Choi
Chul Soon
CS
Chang
Suk Ki
SK
Yun
Eun Joo
EJ
Seo
Young Lan
YL
Park
Sang Joon
SJ
Lee
Yu-Jin
YJ
Moon
Jeung Hee
JH
Rho
Young-Soo
YS
Kim
Jin-Hwan
JH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; D012965:Sodium Chloride