title: A comparison of the use of contrast media with different iodine concentrations for multidetector CT of the kidney.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimal iodine concentration of contrast media for kidney multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) by comparing the degree of renal parenchymal enhancement and the severity of the renal streak artifact with contrast media of different iodine concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 16-row MDCT was performed in 15 sedated rabbits by injection of 2 mL contrast media/kg body weight at a rate of 0.3 mL/sec. Monomeric nonionic contrast media of 250, 300, and 370 mg iodine/mL were injected at 1-week intervals. Mean attenuation values were measured in each renal structure with attenuation differences among the structures. The artifact was evaluated by CT window width/level and three grading methods. The values were compared with iodine concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 370 mg iodine/mL concentration showed significantly higher cortical enhancement than 250 mg iodine/mL in all phases (p < 0.05). There was however no significant difference in the degree of enhancement between the 300 mg iodine/mL and 370 mg iodine/mL concentrations in all phases. There is a significant difference in attenuation for the cortex-outer medulla between 250 mg iodine/mL and 300 mg iodine/mL (p < 0.05). The artifact was more severe with a medium of 370 mg iodine/mL than with 250 mg iodine/mL by all grading methods (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 300 mg iodine/mL is considered to be the most appropriate iodine concentration in an aspect of the enhancement and artifact on a kidney MDCT scan.
authors: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seung Chai
authors: SC
authors: Jung
authors: Seung Hyup
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Jeong Yeon
authors: JY
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001027:Aortography; D016477:Artifacts; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis*; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000737:chemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007455:Iodine; D007479:Iopamidol