Cost reduction in abdominal CT by weight-adjusted dose.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the influence of contrast dose adjusted by weight vs. fixed contrast dose in the attenuation and cost of abdominal computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
A randomised, consecutive, parallel group study was conducted in 151 patients (74 men and 77 women, age range 22-67 years), studied with the same CT helical protocol. A dose at 1.75 ml/kg was administered in 101 patients while 50 patients had a fixed dose of 120 ml of same non-ionic contrast material (320 mg/ml). Mean enhancements were measured at right hepatic lobe, superior abdominal aorta and inferior cava vein. Statistical analysis was weight-stratified (<60, 61-70, 71-80 and >81 kg).


RESULTS
Aortic attenuation was significantly superior (p<0.05) in the dose adjusted by weight group than in the fixed dose group. Patients who weighed >61 kg in dose-adjusted group, presented higher hepatic attenuation, being statistically significant in those >81 kg (p<0.01). In dose-adjusted group, there was a savings of euro 4.1 per patient in patients weighing <80 kg. In patients weighing >80 kg, there was an over cost of euro 10.7 per patient.


CONCLUSIONS
An injection volume of 1.75 ml/kg offers an optimal diagnostic quality with a global savings of euro 1.34 per patient.
Arana
Estanislao
E
Department of Radiology, Hospital Quirón, E-4610 Valencia, Spain. aranae@uv.es
Martí-Bonmatí
Luis
L
Tobarra
Eva
E
Sierra
Consuelo
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001822:Body Burden; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media