CT angiography in suspected pulmonary embolism: impact of patient characteristics and different venous lines on vessel enhancement and image quality.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to compare image quality, patient characteristics, and different catheters in pulmonary CT angiography (CTA) performed with bolus tracking and z-axis automated tube current modulation (ATCM) in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-six patients were referred to undergo pulmonary CTA with bolus tracking and ATCM. Besides patient characteristics, the type, position, size, and side of venous catheters were documented. Pulmonary vessel enhancement and image noise were quantified; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Subjective vessel contrast was assessed by two radiologists in consensus.


RESULTS
Patient age showed a moderate but significant positive correlation to vessel enhancement (r = 0.244, p = 0.006), CNR (r = 0.178, p = 0.046), and subjective image quality (r = 0.344, p < 0.001). Patient weight revealed a significant negative correlation to vessel enhancement (r = -0.496, p < 0.001), SNR (r = -0.446, p < 0.001), CNR (r = -0.425, p < 0.001), and subjective image quality (r = -0.422, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, SNR and CNR were significantly higher in patients who received contrast medium through peripheral catheters (30 +/- 13 and 27 +/- 13, respectively) than in those in whom central catheters were used (22 +/- 8 and 19 +/- 7, p = 0.041 and p = 0.029, respectively). Neither patient sex nor catheter size, position, or side had any significant impact on image quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient age and weight showed significant impact on vascular attenuation and image quality in pulmonary CTA with bolus tracking and ATCM, whereas patient sex and different peripheral catheters did not significantly influence image parameters.
Roggenland
Daniela
D
Department of Interventional Radiology, Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, BG Clinics Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Buerkle-de-la-Camp Platz 1, D-44789 Bochum, Germany.
Peters
Soeren A
SA
Lemburg
Stefan P
SP
Holland-Letz
Tim
T
Nicolas
Volkmar
V
Heyer
Christoph M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D016477:Artifacts; D001835:Body Weight; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors