title: Multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms: comparison of arterial enhancement with 3 different doses of contrast material.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the quality of multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography in patients with and without aortic aneurysms by 3 different amounts of contrast media (CM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 115 patients with aortic aneurysms were divided into 3 groups: group A, 100 mL CM; group B, 75 mL CM with 20 mL saline flush (SF); and group C, 50 mL CM with 20 mL SF. Twenty-five patients without aortic aneurysms were also enrolled (group D, 50 mL CM with 20 mL SF). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed by measuring attenuation in thoracoabdominal/aortoiliac lumen, aneurysmal lumen, and superior vena cava.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group C, attenuation was lower in distal than those in proximal and middle areas (P < 0.05). Contrast enhancement in abdominal aneurysmal lumen was more inhomogeneous in group C (P = 0.003). Visual analysis showed contrast enhancement was more nonuniform in group C (P = 0.004), and perivenous artifacts were more conspicuous in group A (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seventy-five milliliters CM followed by 20 mL SF can produce optimal contrast enhancement at systemic multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography in patients with aortic aneurysms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. skubo@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tadamura
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamuro
authors.forename: Shotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanao
authors.forename: Milliam Lika
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komeda
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Togashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007472:Iohexol; D007479:Iopamidol