title: Sixty-four-multidetector-row computed tomography angiography with bolus tracking to time arterial-phase imaging in healthy liver: is there a correlation between quantitative and qualitative scores?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimal 64-multidetector-row computed tomography scan delay from bolus-tracking trigger for the arterial phase and the evaluation of vascularization in healthy liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty patients are randomized into 3 groups according to scan delay (5-, 10-, 15-second arterial phase) and underwent CT of the liver. Images were evaluated on the basis of quantitative and qualitative scores. A correlation analysis between them was managed to find the most effective scan delay for best radiologists' diagnostically performances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scanning too early results in images that are acquired before the vascular peak enhancement while scanning to late results in the increasing of liver parenchyma portal feeding. Good performances were obtained with a scan delay ranging between 10 and 19 seconds from the trigger.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When a 64-multidetector-row computed tomography with a bolus-tracking program is used, only 1 arterial phase should be acquired, setting a scan delay of 10 to 19 seconds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy. mosimani@sirm.org
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osimani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rengo
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolantonio
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Carlo Nicola
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: De Cecco
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: Marco Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maceroni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000792:Angiography; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media