title: Optimal iodine dose for 3-dimensional multidetector-row CT angiography of the liver.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the optimal iodine dose of contrast material for 3-dimensional multidetector-row CT angiography (3D-MDCTA) of the venous vasculature of the liver using volume rendering technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 103 patients who were randomly assigned to 5 contrast-enhanced MDCT protocol groups with different body-weight-tailored doses of contrast material: 500, 600, 630, 650, and 700 mgI/kg body weight. The arterial, portal, and hepatic parenchymal phases were obtained to evaluate enhancement values of the aorta, portal vein, and hepatic vein. Visualization of the portal and hepatic veins on the volume-rendering images of 3D-MDCTA was evaluated using a 5-point grade. Dunnett's test was used to compare the mean enhancement value and mean grades of image quality (700 mgI/kg dose group was control).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean enhancement values of portal and hepatic vein in the group with 500 and 600 mgI/kg were significantly lower than those of the control group. During visual assessment, a significantly lower mean grades were observed in 500 mgI/kg groups for the portal vein, and 500 and 600 mgI/kg groups for hepatic vein. There were no significant intergroup differences in mean enhancement values and visual assessment among the groups using 630 mgI/kg or more.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iodine doses of 630 mgI/kg was recommended for 3D-MDCTA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan. ichikawa@yamanashi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Utaroh
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Motosugi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morisaka
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sou
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onohara
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol