Adrenal glands in hypovolemic shock: preservation of contrast enhancement at dynamic computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate contrast enhancement effects of the adrenal glands at dynamic computed tomography (CT) in adult severe trauma patients with hypovolemic shock in comparison with patients without hypovolemic shock.


METHODS
This study population included a total of 74 patients with (n = 24) and without (n = 50) blunt trauma and hypovolemic shock. Measurement of CT attenuation values of the adrenal gland and calculation of the enhancement washout percentages were performed.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SD CT attenuation values of the adrenal glands in the arterial phase of dynamic CT in patients with hypovolemic shock (137.3 +/- 41.7 Hounsfield unit [HU]) were not significantly different (P = 0.16) from those in control subjects (127.3 +/- 19.6 HU). The mean CT attenuation values of the adrenal glands in the delayed phase of dynamic CT in patients with hypovolemic shock (82.0 +/- 14.7 HU) were also not significantly different (P = 0.89) from those in control subjects (82.4 +/- 10.0 HU). The mean percentage (35%) of enhancement washout of the adrenal glands in patients with hypovolemic shock was not significantly different (P = 0.81) from that (34%) in control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast enhancement effects of the adrenal glands at contrast-enhanced dynamic CT in patients with hypovolemic shock were similar to those in control subjects, indicating the preserved enhancement and perfusion of the adrenal gland rather than intense and persistent enhancement in patients with hypovolemic shock.
Ito
Katsuyoshi
K
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. itokatsuyoshi2007@rhythm.ocn.ne.jp
Higashi
Hiroki
H
Kanki
Akihiko
A
Tamada
Tsutomu
T
Yamashita
Takenori
T
Yamamoto
Akira
A
Watanabe
Shigeru
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007479:Iopamidol; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications; D012769:Shock / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol