Hand Exercise During Contrast Medium Delivery at Thoracic Helical CT: A Simple Method to Minimize Perivenous Artifact

Abstract

Hand exercise during contrast material delivery at thoracic helical CT minimizes perivenous artifact and improves image quality.

Optimization of CT Angiography of the Carotid Artery with a 16-MDCT Scanner: Craniocaudal Scan Direction Reduces Contrast Material-Related Perivenous Artifacts

“…Artifacts caused by the inflow of undiluted high-density contrast material in the SVC during thoracic helical CT have been described [5][6][7]9]. These artifacts can cause obscuration of enlarged lymph nodes, incomplete characterization of axillary and mediastinal masses, and obscuration of vascular lesions.…”

High Opacification of Hilar Pulmonary Vessels with a Small Amount of Nonionic Contrast Medium for General Thoracic CT: A Prospective Study

“…Various bolus injection timings, injection flow rates, contrast volumes, and iodine concentrations are used in contrast-enhanced thoracic CT. Small to large volumes of contrast agents are used in general thoracic CT examinations [3,4,6].…”

Aneurysm of the Internal Thoracic Vein: An Extremely Rare Cause of a Mediastinal Mass

“…The best contrast enhancement for thoracic masses is obtained during the venous phase: this will avoid artifacts manifesting as blooms and streaks in the subpectoral region and anterior mediastinum adjacent to the subclavian and brachiocephalic veins. 3 If these effects are sufficiently severe, they may decrease the overall image quality by obscuring enlarged lymph nodes, resulting in incomplete or inaccurate characterization of axillary or mediastinal masses, and obscuration of vascular lesions. 3 Inadequate contrast enhancement of vascular lesions may arouse the wrong suspicion of tumor.…”

“…3 If these effects are sufficiently severe, they may decrease the overall image quality by obscuring enlarged lymph nodes, resulting in incomplete or inaccurate characterization of axillary or mediastinal masses, and obscuration of vascular lesions. 3 Inadequate contrast enhancement of vascular lesions may arouse the wrong suspicion of tumor. In our patient, the first CT scan, performed for oncological follow-up, was acquired during an early chest phase, as shown by a streak artifact within the superior vena cava leading to suspicion of a thymoma.…”