Effect of contrast medium by left or right side ulnar vein injection on the quality of enhanced CT images

Abstract

Objective To compare the effect of contrast medium by left or right side ulnar vein injection on the quality of enhanced CT images. Methods One hundred and sixty-five consecutive patients underwent thoracic CT contrast enhancement examination with multi-detector CT and scan delay time was 60 seconds. According to group sampling, subjects were divided into three groups: young age group ( 60 years old ) 70 cases, and then patients were divided into two groups by random digits table with left side ulnar vein injection (left vein group, 77 cases ) and right side ulnar vein injection ( right vein group, 88 cases ) . Anteroposterior dimension between posterior border of manubrium sterni and anterior border of aortic arch (or brachiocephalic artery) where left brachiocephalic vein acrossing was measured and analyzed with relation of image quality. Results The anteroposterior dimension showed a statistical significant difference between young age group and elder age group(P 0.05). The CT value in left vein group and right vein group was (106 ?24 ), (149 ?29 ) HU respectively, and there was statistical difference between two groups (P<0.05). The good quality CT image in left vein group and right vein group was 61.0% (47/77),79.5% (70/88), and there was statistical difference (P <0.05). Conclusion CT contrast enhancement examination with right ulnar vein injection rather than left side may improve the quality of images by avoiding compression of left brachiocephalic vein in some patients . Key words: Tomography, X-ray computed; Image enhancement; Ulnar vein