title: Delivering the Saline Chaser Via a Spiral Flow-Generating Tube Improves Arterial Enhancement for Computed Tomography Angiography of the Lower Extremities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We delivered the saline chaser via a spiral flow-generating tube or a conventional connecting tube and compared arterial enhancement at computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the lower extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly assigned 100 patients whose ankle bronchial pressure index or clinical symptoms were suspect of peripheral arterial disease to a spiral flow-generating tube (protocol A) or a conventional connecting-tube protocol (protocol B) and performed CTA of the lower extremities. The test bolus was delivered under protocol A or B, and the CT numbers recorded for each protocol were compared. Two radiological technologists visually evaluated the descending genicular artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the test injection, the median CT number for the popliteal artery was significantly higher with protocol A than B (204.5 HU vs. 170.5 HU, P = 0.03). For CTA of the lower extremities, the median CT number for the popliteal artery at the level of the patella was 436.1 HU (range, 259-608 HU) under protocol A; with protocol B, it was 382.9 HU (range, 244-564 HU) (P = 0.02). The visual score assigned in the descending genicular artery was statistically significantly higher under protocol A than B (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the spiral flow-generating tube increased the effect of the saline chaser and significantly improved arterial enhancement from the abdominal aorta to the arteries of the foot at CTA of the lower extremities.
authors.affiliation: From the*Department of Radiological Technology, Tsuchiya General Hospital; †Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima; ‡Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University; §Diagnostic Radiology, Amakusa Medical Center, Kumamoto; and ∥Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tsuchiya General Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Funama
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakaura
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imada
authors.forename: Tomoyasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007472:Iohexol; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; D012965:Sodium Chloride