Body tumor CT perfusion protocols: optimization of acquisition scan parameters in a rat tumor model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of total scanning time (TST), interscan delay (ISD), inclusion of image at peak vascular enhancement (IPVE), and selection of the input function vessel on the accuracy of tumor blood flow (BF) calculation with computed tomography (CT) in an animal model.


METHODS
All animal protocols and experiments were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee prior to study initiation. After injection of 0.2 or 0.4 mL of iodinated contrast material, six rats with mammary adenocarcinoma (three tumors each) were scanned in the axial mode for 5 minutes with 1-second ISD (reference scan), 2.5-mm section thickness, 2.5-mm interval, pitch of 1.3, 120 kV, 240 mA, and 0.5-second rotation time. A total of 126 dynamic data sets were created with commercial software by varying TST and ISD, including or excluding the IPVE, and using the aorta or inferior vena cava (IVC) as the input function. Comparative analyses were used to test for significant differences (t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between attenuation of the input function vessel and BF.


RESULTS
No significant difference was observed (P > .05) when TST was as short as 30 seconds (range, 20-23 mL/100 g). In sequences performed with an ISD longer than 8 seconds, BF was significantly elevated (P < .01). Inclusion of the IPVE eliminated this difference (P > .10). Use of the IVC as the input function resulted in significantly higher BF (P < .02), with a correlation between peak attenuation and BF (R(2) = 0.43).


CONCLUSIONS
To reduce radiation dose in tumor perfusion with CT, TST can be reduced without causing significant changes in BF calculation in an animal model. Scanning the aortic reference with peak contrast enhancement reduces variability sufficiently to allow for longer ISDs.
Tognolini
Alessia
A
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Schor-Bardach
Rachel
R
Pianykh
Oleg S
OS
Wilcox
Carol J
CJ
Raptopoulos
Vassilios
V
Goldberg
S Nahum
SN
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media