Comparison of Abdominal Computed Tomographic Enhancement and Organ Lesion Depiction between Weight-Based Scanner Software Contrast Dosing and a Fixed-Dose Protocol in a Tertiary Care Oncologic Center

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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the quality of enhancement and solid-organ lesion depiction using weight-based intravenous (IV) contrast dosing calculated by injector software versus fixed IV contrast dose in oncologic abdominal computed tomographic (CT) examinations. Methods This institutional review board-exempt retrospective cohort study included 134 patients who underwent single-phase abdominal CT before and after implementation of weight-based IV contrast injector software. Patient weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area were determined. Two radiologists qualitatively assessed examinations (4 indicating markedly superior to -4 indicating markedly inferior), and Hounsfield unit measurements were performed. Results Enhancement (estimated mean, -0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.19 to 0.09; P = 0.46) and lesion depiction (estimated mean, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.07; P = 0.79) scores did not differ between CT examinations using weight-based IV contrast versus fixed IV contrast dosing when a minimum of 38.5 g of iodine was used. However, the scores using weight-based IV contrast dosing were lower when the injector software calculated and delivered less than 38.5 g of iodine (estimated mean, -0.81; 95% CI, -1.06 to -0.56; P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in measured Hounsfield units between the CT examinations using weight-based IV contrast dosing versus fixed IV contrast dosing. Conclusions Oncologic CT image quality was maintained or improved with weight-based IV contrast dosing using injector software when using a minimum amount of 38.5 g of iodine.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)155-162
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of computer assisted tomography
Volume43
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2019

Keywords

  • IV
  • abdomen
  • computed tomography
  • iodine contrast
  • weight-based dosing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Biostatistics Resource Group

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