Pulmonary 64-MDCT angiography with 50 mL of iodinated contrast material in an unselected patient population: a feasible protocol^*

Angiografia pulmonar em tomógrafo de 64 detectores com 50 mL de contraste iodado: protocolo de aquisição factível em uma população não selecionada de pacientes

Abstract

Objective:

To propose a protocol for pulmonary angiography using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (64-MDCT) with 50 mL of iodinated contrast material, in an unselected patient population, as well as to evaluate vascular enhancement and image quality.

Materials and Methods:

We evaluated 29 patients (22-86 years of age). The body mass index ranged from 19.0 kg/m² to 41.8 kg/m². Patients underwent pulmonary CT angiography in a 64-MDCT scanner, receiving 50 mL of iodinated contrast material via venous access at a rate of 4.5 mL/s. Bolus tracking was applied in the superior vena cava. Two experienced radiologists assessed image quality and vascular enhancement.

Results:

The mean density was 382 Hounsfield units (HU) for the pulmonary trunk; 379 and 377 HU for the right and left main pulmonary arteries, respectively; and 346 and 364 HU for the right and left inferior pulmonary arteries, respectively. In all patients, subsegmental arteries were analyzed. There were streak artifacts from contrast material in the superior vena cava in all patients. However, those artifacts did not impair the image analysis.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that pulmonary angiography using 64-MDCT with 50 mL of iodinated contrast can produce high quality images in unselected patient populations.

Keywords:
Tomography, X-ray computed; Contrast media; Angiography; Pulmonary embolism