Coronary CT angiography using low concentrated contrast media injected with high flow rates: Feasible in clinical practice

Abstract

Usage of low iodine concentration CM and injection with high flow rates is feasible. High flow rates (9 mL/s) of Iopromide 240 were safely injected without complications and should not be considered a drawback in clinical practice. No significant differences in peak pressure and image quality were found. This creates a doorway towards applicability of a broad variety in flow rates and IDRs and subsequently more individually tailored injection protocols.

Contrast Media Administration in Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography – A Systematic Review

“…Recent studies have confirmed the hypothesis that a CM with a lower iodine concentration provides attenuation levels equal to those obtained using a more highly concentrated CM when the IDR is kept identical [76,77]. In both in vivo and phantom studies, comparison of protocols using different CM concentrations (varying between 240 -400 mg/ml) established comparable intravascular enhancement patterns when the IDR and other CM-and scan-related factors were kept standardized.…”

Use of pulmonary CT angiography with low tube voltage and low-iodine-concentration contrast agent to diagnose pulmonary embolism

“…Therefore, it is very important to use low concentration of contrast agents and use doses of contrast agent that are as low as possible without affecting CTA imaging. In recent decades, low concentration of contrast agent is advanced into the clinic, such as 240 mg I/ml 18 and 270 mg I/ml 17 . Low concentration of contrast agent is proved with a lower viscosity and gets an acceleration of contrast agent distribution within blood.…”

A prospective evaluation of contrast and radiation dose and image quality in cardiac CT in children with complex congenital heart disease using low-concentration iodinated contrast agent and low tube voltage and current

“…Another possible explanation could be that a lower concentrated CM might be advantageous in that as injection pressures proved to be lower with lower concentration, CM distribution within the blood may be accelerated. 21,22 In addition, the lower concentration CM has lower peak pressures; so it benefits patients whose i.v. access is small.…”

“…23 The standard deviation of the attenuation values in the two groups was considered somewhat broad, but still within the range of previous published data. [20][21][22] This is an indication that attenuation values were quite variable, which might have a relationship with the variable body weight and other factors (e.g. cardiac output, heart rate).…”