Search

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility of a wide detector liver CT protocol with three acquisitions in the hepatic arterial phase., Methods: Forty-one patients with cirrhosis prospectively underwent a wide detector axial liver CT protocol. Three 16 cm axial liver acquisitions were obtained during a single breath hold at peak aortic enhancement plus 10, 20, and 25 s. Two readers working separately scored overall exam quality, identified hyperenhancing lesions, and subjectively scored and ranked relative lesion conspicuity. Objective lesion enhancement was measured and CNR calculated. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear models and Tukey's post hoc testing., Results: Seventy-one hyperenhancing lesions were identified with average size of 1.8 cm (range 0.4-9.6 cm). The two readers separately identified 60 and 54 lesions on the 10 s arterial acquisition, 70 and 67 on the 20 s, and 52 and 51 on the 25 s. The readers determined all exams had diagnostic image quality. Subjective ranking of lesion conspicuity was greatest at 20 s in 62% of lesions but was greatest at 10 or 25 s in 38%. CNR was highest at 20 s in 58% of lesions but was highest at 10 or 25 s in 42%. Overall, there was no significant difference in mean CNR between the three arterial acquisitions., Conclusion: A wide detector axial liver CT protocol with three acquisitions in the hepatic arterial phase is technologically feasible and results in diagnostic image quality. With this protocol, peak subjective and objective hyperenhancing lesion conspicuity may be earlier or later than 20 s in up to 40% of lesions.

Purpose: To compare dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) aortography using a 70% reduced iodine dose to single-energy CT (SECT) aortography using a standard iodine dose in the same patient., Methods: Twenty-one patients with a prior SECT aortography using standard iodine dose had DECT aortography using 70% reduced iodine dose. Section 120 kVp images were compared to DECT images reconstructed at both 50 and 77 keV. Reviewers measured image noise and attenuation in the aorta at eight locations from proximal to distal and subjectively scored vascular enhancement on a four-point scale. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The volume CT dose index (CTDI vol ) for each exam was recorded., Results: Mean iodine dose was 50 g for SECT and 15 g for DECT (70% reduction). Mean aortic attenuation was similar for section 120 kVp (350 ± 67 HU) and DECT 50 keV (338 ± 57 HU, p = 0.547) but was lower at 77 keV (152 ± 23 HU). Measured image noise was greatest at 50 keV (12 ± 5 HU) and was lowest at 77 keV (7 ± 2 HU, p > 0.001). There was no difference in SNR or CNR between 120 kVp and 50 keV (p > 0.05). Mean subjective vascular enhancement scores for SECT were between good and excellent (3.33-3.69), and for DECT at 50 keV were between moderate and good (2.54-2.93, p < 0.0001). CTDI vol was 13.6 mGy for SECT and 13.1 mGy for DECT (p = 0.637)., Conclusion: 70% Reduced iodine DECT aortography may result in similar aortic attenuation, CNR, SNR, and lower although acceptable subjective image scores when compared to standard iodine SECT aortography in the same patient.