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Computed tomography angiography of carotid and coronary artery via a single-bolus injection protocol: a feasibility study using 320-row multidetector CT

  • Computed Tomography
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the feasibility of using a single-dose injection protocol in CT angiography (CTA) of the carotid and coronary artery with 320-row multidetector CT.

Methods

A total of 82 consecutive patients with suspected carotid artery disease underwent an original CTA protocol aiming at capturing the extra-cranial carotid arteries and coronary arteries simultaneously using 320-row MDCT. The image quality, attenuation, and CNRs of the carotid and coronary arteries were assessed. The lag time (between two separated volumetric acquisitions) was compared between patients with and without cardiac venous opacification (CVO). The contrast medium volume and radiation dose were recorded.

Results

The image quality was 99.4 % diagnostic in carotid and 86.9 % in coronary artery segments. The mean attenuation of carotid and coronary arteries ranged from 462.2 Hu to 533.7 Hu, 415.9 Hu to 454.7 Hu respectively. The mean CNR of the carotid and coronary artery ranged from 15.8 to 18.9 and 17.7 to 20.4 respectively. The lag time in patients with and without CVO was 5.75 ± 1.64 s vs. 4.21 ± 1.14 s (p < 0.05). The mean radiation dose was 6.6 ± 4.1 mSv.The mean contrast media volume was 71.9 ± 9.1 ml.

Conclusions

The carotid and coronary artery can be imaged simultaneously via our original single-dose injection CTA protocol using 320-row CT with adequate image quality.

Key Points

• Carotid and coronary 320-row CTA can be achieved in a single-dose injection.

• Longer coverage was achieved with two or more volumes using 320-row CT.

• The single-dose protocol allows a reduced contrast agent dose of about 72 ml.

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Abbreviations

MDCT:

Multidetector computed tomography

CTA:

Computed tomography angiography

CNR:

Contrast-to-noise ratio

CAD:

Coronary artery disease

CM:

Contrast media

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Mengsu Zeng. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this study. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: prospective, cross-sectional study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, SuZhou, 215006, China

    WeiGuo Zhang

  2. Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China

    WeiGuo Zhang, Hang Jin, Gang Chen, Wenfang Chen, Junying Gu & Mengsu Zeng

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  1. WeiGuo Zhang
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  2. Hang Jin
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  3. Gang Chen
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Correspondence to Mengsu Zeng.

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Zhang, W., Jin, H., Chen, G. et al. Computed tomography angiography of carotid and coronary artery via a single-bolus injection protocol: a feasibility study using 320-row multidetector CT. Eur Radiol 24, 1628–1635 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3183-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3183-0

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