Evaluation of Intravenous Contrast Agents Timing and Enhancement in Non-Traumatic Abdomen and Pelvis CT Exams

Abstract

Achieving the optimal enhancement is the desired goal of any computed tomography (CT) scan with intravenous (IV) contrast medium (CM). The aim of this study is to assess IV timing and other CM related factors when different enhancement phases were used and their deviation to the recommended standards in nontraumatic Abdomen Pelvic (A/P) CT scan with IV CM. 80 patients from different medical institutions underwent Abdomen, and Pelvis CT scans with IV CM; the process of CM timing and other CM related factors were evaluated. The attenuation values in the Hounsfield Unit (HU) for liver and aorta were measured. The average HU was compared between the groups. Widely varying aortic and hepatic enhancement resulted from random use and wide range of timing and other CM factors. Aortic enhancement ranged from 98-361HU, and hepatic enhancement ranged from 13-76 HU, respectively. Mean± SD of maximal aortic enhancement was 264.25±60.23, 213.45±50.83, 200.85±39.2, and 164.2±48.27. Mean ± SD of maximal enhancement of the liver was 53.4±10.3, 44.9±12, 45.8±10, 34.6±10.1 for institutions 1, 2a, 2b and 3, respectively. Random use of CM timing and protocols will result in a widely varying range of enhancement, and peak parenchymal enhancement with less homogeneous enhancement. CM administration and scan timing need to be optimized CM interrelt-