title: Comparison of iodinated contrast media for the assessment of atherosclerotic plaque attenuation values by CT coronary angiography: observations in an ex vivo model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the influence of different iodinated contrast media with several dilutions on plaque attenuation in an ex vivo coronary model studied by multislice CT coronary angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  In six ex vivo left anterior descending coronary arteries immersed in oil, CT (slices/collimation 64×0.625 mm, temporal resolution 210 ms, pitch 0.2) was performed after intracoronary injection of a saline solution, and solutions of a dimeric isosmolar contrast medium (Iodixanol 320 mgI ml(-1)) and a monomeric high-iodinated contrast medium (Iomeprol 400 mgI ml(-1)) with dilutions of 1/80 (low concentration), 1/50 (medium concentration), 1/40 (high concentration) and 1/20 (very high concentration). Two radiologists drew regions of interest in the lumen and in calcified and non-calcified plaques for each solution. 29 cross-sections with non-calcified plaques and 32 cross-sections with calcified plaques were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both contrast media showed different attenuation values within lumen and plaque (p<0.0001). The correlation between lumen and non-calcified plaque values was good (Iodixanol r=0.793, Iomeprol r=0.647). Clustered medium- and high-concentration solutions showed similar plaque attenuation values, signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) (non-calcified plaque: medium solution SNR 31.3±15 vs 31.4±20, high solution SNR 39.4±17 vs 37.4±22; calcified plaque: medium solution SNR 305.2±133 vs 298.8±132, high solution SNR 323.9±138 vs 293±123) and derived contrast-to-noise ratios (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differently iodinated contrast media have a similar influence on plaque attenuation profiles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since iodine load affects coronary plaque attenuation linearly, different contrast media may be equally employed for coronary atherosclerotic plaque imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. ludovicolagrutta@hotmail.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Grutta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lo Re
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grassedonio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coppolino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maresi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Casto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C057937:iomeprol; C044834:iodixanol; D007479:Iopamidol