title: Imaging of acute superior mesenteric artery embolus using spectral CT in a canine model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the diagnostic value of single-source dual-energy spectral CT (sDECT) imaging in an acute superior mesenteric artery embolus (SMAE) canine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-contrast and double-phase contrast-enhanced sDECT were performed before and after embolization in eight SMAE dog models. Monochromatic images of embolized intestine with the best contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were obtained and compared with the polychromatic images. CT parameters including attenuation value, iodine content, water content and thickness of the embolized intestinal segments were obtained, and normalized difference in iodine concentration (NDIC) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CNR in pre-contrast, arterial phase and portal venous phase at 4 h after embolization was 1.11 ± 1.23, 13.50 ± 1.54 and 10.63 ± 3.75, respectively, significantly higher than those of the polychromatic images (p < 0.05). The iodine-based images clearly revealed the embolized intestinal segments, which were highly consistent with the gross findings. The difference in attenuation values between the embolization area and non-embolization area in the monochromatic images was 105.06 ± 35.35 HU, higher than that in the polychromatic images (p < 0.001). The attenuation values and NDIC were significantly decreased at 2 h after embolization, relatively increased at 4 h and gradually decreased at 6 and 8 h. The changing pattern of thickness was similar to that of NDIC over time after embolization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sDECT can provide the optimal monochromatic images and allow increased detection rates of lesions. sDECT is a very promising tool for quantitative diagnosis of SMAE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our research provides more quantitative parameters for the assessment of SMAE by sDECT.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Hongzhen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xigang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Zhiwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Jin Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Xiuhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D017613:Iodine Compounds; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D017613:Iodine Compounds; C093233:iobitridol; D007472:Iohexol