title: Optimization of cardiac MSCT contrast injection protocols: dependency of the main bolus contrast density on test bolus parameters and patients' body weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the correlation of test bolus (TB) curve parameters with main bolus (MB) contrast density for cardiac 16-slice computed tomography, and to correlate observed enhancement with patient body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease were included in a prospective double-blind study. Contrast material containing 300 mg iodine/mL (Iomeprol 300; Imeron 300, Bracco Imaging SpA, Milan, Italy) and 400 mg iodine/mL (Iomeprol 400; Imeron 400) was injected at a rate of 1 g of iodine/second. Contrast densities (Hounsfield units) of the MB were determined in the left cardiac system. The peak density (PD) of maximum attenuation and the area under the curve (AUC) of the TB curve were calculated for each patient. The dependency of MB contrast attenuation on these parameters and on patient body weight was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive correlations (r = 0.52 and r = 0.56, respectively; P < .0001) were obtained between the PD and AUC of the TB curve with the mean density of the MB. Stronger correlations (r = 0.63 and r = 0.64, respectively; P < .0001) between PD and AUC of the TB curve and MB attenuation were found when patient body weight was included in the analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strong correlation of the PD and AUC of the TB curve with the mean density of the MB is observed when patient body weight is considered. Contrast injection protocols may be optimized, and variations of MB contrast density in the left ventricle and main coronary arteries reduced, by taking these TB parameters and the weight of the patient into account.
authors: Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospitals - Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. carsten.rist@med.uni-meunchen.de
authors: Carsten
authors: C
authors: Rist
authors: Christoph R
authors: CR
authors: Becker
authors: Miles A
authors: MA
authors: Kirchin
authors: Thorsten R
authors: TR
authors: Johnson
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Busch
authors: Kyongtae Ty
authors: KT
authors: Bae
authors: Alexander W
authors: AW
authors: Leber
authors: Maximilian F
authors: MF
authors: Reiser
authors: Konstantin
authors: K
authors: Nikolaou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001835:Body Weight; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media