title: Intravenous contrast media application using cone-beam computed tomography in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of visualizing soft tissue lesions and vascular structures using contrast-enhanced cone-beam computed tomography (CE-CBCT) after the intravenous administration of a contrast medium in an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT was performed on six rabbits after a contrast medium was administered using an injection dose of 2 mL/kg body weight and an injection rate of 1 mL/s via the ear vein or femoral vein under general anesthesia. Artificial soft tissue lesions were created through the transplantation of autologous fatty tissue into the salivary gland. Volume rendering reconstruction, maximum intensity projection, and multiplanar reconstruction images were reconstructed and evaluated in order to visualize soft tissue contrast and vascular structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contrast enhancement of soft tissue was possible using all contrast medium injection parameters. An adequate contrast medium injection parameter for facilitating effective CE-CBCT was a 5-mL injection before exposure combined with a continuous 5-mL injection during scanning. Artificial soft tissue lesions were successfully created in the animals. The CE-CBCT images demonstrated adequate opacification of the soft tissues and vascular structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite limited soft tissue resolution, the opacification of vascular structures was observed and artificial soft tissue lesions were visualized with sufficient contrast to the surrounding structures. The vascular structures and soft tissue lesions appeared well delineated in the CE-CBCT images, which was probably due to the superior spatial resolution of CE-CBCT compared to other techniques, such as multislice computed tomography.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Min-Sung
authors: MS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Bok-Yeol
authors: BY
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Hwa-Young
authors: HY
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yoon-Joo
authors: YJ
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Song-Hee
authors: SH
authors: Oh
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ju-Hee
authors: JH
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sae-Rom
authors: SR
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ju-Han
authors: JH
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Gyu-Tae
authors: GT
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yong-Suk
authors: YS
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eui-Hwan
authors: EH
authors: Hwang
keywords: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Contrast Media; Radiography; Soft Tissue