64-Slice CT angiography of the abdominal aorta and abdominal arteries: comparison of the diagnostic efficacy of iobitridol 350 mgI/ml versus iomeprol 400 mgI/ml in a prospective, randomised, double-blind multi-centre trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of iodine concentration on diagnostic efficacy in multi-detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) angiography of the abdominal aorta and abdominal arteries.


METHODS
IRB approval and informed consent were obtained. In this double-blind trial, patients were randomised to undergo MDCT angiography of the abdominal arteries during administration of iobitridol (350 mgI/ml) or iomeprol (400 mgI/ml). Each centre applied its own technique for delivery of contrast medium, regardless of iodine concentration. Diagnostic efficacy, image quality, visualisation of the arterial wall and arterial enhancement were evaluated. A total of 153 patients received iobitridol and 154 received iomeprol.


RESULTS
The ability to reach a diagnosis was "satisfactory" to "totally satisfactory" in 152 (99.3%) and 153 (99.4%) patients respectively. Image quality was rated as being "good" to "excellent" in 94.7 and 94.8% segments respectively. Similar results were observed for image quality of arterial walls (84.3 vs. 83.2%). The mean relative changes in arterial enhancement between baseline and arterial phase images showed no statistically significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the non-inferiority of the 350 versus 400 mgI/ml iodine concentration, in terms of diagnostic efficacy, in abdominal MDCT angiography. It also confirmed the high robustness and reliability of this technique across multi-national practices.
Loewe
Christian
C
Section of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. christian.loewe@meduniwien.ac.at
Becker
Christoph R
CR
Berletti
Riccardo
R
Cametti
Carlo Alberto
CA
Caudron
Jerome
J
Coudyzer
Walter
W
De Mey
Johan
J
Favat
Massimo
M
Heautot
Jean-François
JF
Heye
Sam
S
Hittinger
Markus
M
Larralde
Antoine
A
Lestrat
Jean-Pierre
JP
Marangoni
Roberto
R
Nieboer
Koenraad
K
Reimer
Peter
P
Schwarz
Martin
M
Schernthaner
Melanie
M
Lammer
Johannes
J
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007472:Iohexol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; C093233:iobitridol; D007472:Iohexol; D007479:Iopamidol