Water-equivalent oral contrast agents in dual-modality PET/computed tomography scanning: does a little barium make the difference?
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively evaluate the performance of two water-equivalent oral contrast agents [locust bean gum (LBG)-mannitol and VoLumen] concerning their potential to distend the bowel while avoiding contrast-associated artifacts in PET/computed tomography.


METHODS
PET/computed tomography examinations of 30 patients with two different oral contrast agents were reviewed. Bowel distension, intraluminal density, and potential contrast-associated artifacts were assessed for stomach, jejunum, and ileum. Statistical significance was tested by Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Distension was slightly better in the stomach with VoLumen as compared with LBG-mannitol whereas LBG-mannitol was found to slightly better distend the small bowel. This difference proved to be statistically significant for the jejunum. A statistically significant difference was detected for intraluminal density with higher densities for VoLumen. This difference, however, did not result in a higher incidence of PET artifacts with VoLumen.


CONCLUSIONS
LBG-mannitol provides excellent bowel distension, thereby avoiding contrast-associated PET artifacts. If this solution is not available, VoLumen provides a satisfactory alternative for bowel distension without relevant PET artifacts.
Kinner
Sonja
S
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
Veit-Haibach
Patrick
P
Lauenstein
Thomas C
TC
Bockisch
Andreas
A
Antoch
Gerald
G
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D001464:Barium / Q000737:chemistry*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D003287:Contrast Media; D014867:Water; D001464:Barium