Affiliations: Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of
Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
Note: [] Corresponding author: Jian-Bo Gao, Department of Radiology, The
First Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China.
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The contrast medium (CM) induced nephropathy required new CT imaging
protocol. This study evaluated the feasibility of low contrast medium (CM)
volume and injection flow using aortic dual-energy CT (DECT) angiography with
non-linear blending technique. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to two
groups: control group (n=30), single-energy CT 70 ml CM at
injection rate of 5 ml/s; study group (n=30), DECT mode,
0.5 ml per kg of patient weight CM at injection rate=(weight × 0.5 ml/kg)/(4+scan
time). Non-linear blending technique was used for dual-energy images. Mean
attention, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of
aorta were compared. The level of visible renal artery branches was scored.
There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean aortic
attention, SNR and CNR (all P > 0.05). Significant
difference was showed in CM injection rate (p < 0.001) and
volume (P < 0.001). The renal artery score had no
statistically significant difference (P=0.771). Compared
conventional scan and CM injection protocol, DECT with non-linear blending
technique maintained the image quality of aortic CT angiography with reduced CM
volume and flow rate, which could reduce the risks associated with CM injection.
