J Korean Soc Radiol.  2012 Aug;67(2):85-92. 10.3348/jksr.2012.67.2.85.

Usefulness of Biphasic Contrast Injection in Multidetector CT of the Head and Neck: A Comparison with Monophasic Contrast Injection

• Lee JH
• Ryu CW
• Kim SM
• Kim EJ
• Choi WS

• KMID: 2097955
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2012.67.2.85

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of biphasic injection of contrast media in a CT of the head and neck.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the first step, vessel and tissue attenuation was measured in four different protocol groups: M1 (monophasic, injection rate: 100 mL at 3 mL/sec, delay time: 70 sec); B1 (biphasic, 100 mL at 3 mL/sec, 70 sec); M2 (monophasic, 100 mL at 2 mL/sec, 70 sec); and B2 (biphasic, 100 mL at 2 mL/sec, 120 sec). The biphasic injection protocol was an initial volus injection of 50 mL contrast medium and an additional volus injection of 50 mL contrast medium at 35 sec after initial injection. In the second step, the tissue attenuation of two groups was measured with a different contrast media volume and phase: M3 (monophasic, 100 mL at 2 mL/sec, 90 sec) and B3 (biphasic, 80 mL at 2 mL/sec, 90 sec, initial volus injection of 40 mL and an additional volus injection of 40 mL at 55 sec after initial injection). The measured CT numbers from vessels and tissues were compared between the different protocol groups.
RESULTS
The vessel attenuation of B1 was higher than that of M1 and B2 (p < 0.05). Despite a longer delay time, the vessel attenuation of B2 was not significantly different from that of M1 and M2. There was no significant differentiation of tissue attenuation between each group. In the second study, the attenuation of vessel and tissue was not different between B3 and M3.
CONCLUSION
Biphasic contrast injection leads to an increased attenuation of the vessel and also delays the optimal scan window.

MeSH Terms

Contrast Media
Glycosaminoglycans
Head
Resin Cements
Contrast Media
Glycosaminoglycans
Resin Cements

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