Imaging Sci Dent.  2015 Mar;45(1):31-39. 10.5624/isd.2015.45.1.31.

Intravenous contrast media application using cone-beam computed tomography in a rabbit model

• Kim MS
• Kim BY
• Choi HY
• Choi YJ
• Oh SH
• Kang JH
• Lee SR
• Kang JH
• Kim GT
• Choi YS
• Hwang EH

• KMID: 2116789
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2015.45.1.31

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of visualizing soft tissue lesions and vascular structures using contrast-enhanced cone-beam computed tomography (CE-CBCT) after the intravenous administration of a contrast medium in an animal model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CBCT was performed on six rabbits after a contrast medium was administered using an injection dose of 2 mL/kg body weight and an injection rate of 1 mL/s via the ear vein or femoral vein under general anesthesia. Artificial soft tissue lesions were created through the transplantation of autologous fatty tissue into the salivary gland. Volume rendering reconstruction, maximum intensity projection, and multiplanar reconstruction images were reconstructed and evaluated in order to visualize soft tissue contrast and vascular structures.
RESULTS
The contrast enhancement of soft tissue was possible using all contrast medium injection parameters. An adequate contrast medium injection parameter for facilitating effective CE-CBCT was a 5-mL injection before exposure combined with a continuous 5-mL injection during scanning. Artificial soft tissue lesions were successfully created in the animals. The CE-CBCT images demonstrated adequate opacification of the soft tissues and vascular structures.
CONCLUSION
Despite limited soft tissue resolution, the opacification of vascular structures was observed and artificial soft tissue lesions were visualized with sufficient contrast to the surrounding structures. The vascular structures and soft tissue lesions appeared well delineated in the CE-CBCT images, which was probably due to the superior spatial resolution of CE-CBCT compared to other techniques, such as multislice computed tomography.

Keyword

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Contrast Media; Soft Tissue; Radiography

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Administration, Intravenous
Anesthesia, General
Animals
Body Weight
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography*
Contrast Media*
Ear
Femoral Vein
Models, Animal
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Rabbits
Radiography
Salivary Glands
Veins
Contrast Media

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A catheter is positioned for intravenous injection in New Zealand white rabbit.

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  Fig. 2 A specially designed equipment is used for immobilization of the rabbit during the procedures.

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  Fig. 3 The photographs show the procedure of an artificial lesion creation in submandibular gland of the rabbit.

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  Fig. 4 Using the multiplanar reconstruction (A), volume rendering reconstruction (B), and maximum intensity projection (C) images, the measurements for the submandibular gland are performed.

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  Fig. 5 The window level and width of CBCT images are set at 0 and 1,000, respectively, in order to clarify the submandibular gland and the adjacent fatty space

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  Fig. 6 Effect of time-dependent intravenous contrast enhancement. A. before enhancement. B. 30 seconds after intravenous injection of 10 mL contrast medium. C. combination of continuous injection of 5 mL with 30 seconds delay time after 5 mL injection

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  Fig. 7 The contrast density is measured on the non-enhanced CBCT images (A), type 1 enhanced CBCT image (B), type 2 enhanced CBCT image (C), and type 3 enhanced CBCT image (D).

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  Fig. 8 The graph shows the contrast density in CBCT according to the study protocol of the contrast media administration for contrast enhancement.

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  Fig. 9 A. The CBCT images show the difference of value of contrast density before and after contrast media administration for the artificial lesion in salivary gland by transplantation of autogenous fatty tissue. B. The graph shows the comparison of contrast density between non-enhancement and type 3 contrast enhancement in salivary gland and artificial fatty lesion on the CBCT image.

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