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Novel contrast-injection protocol for high-resolution abdominal CT-angiography: vascular visualization improvement with vasodilator

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the usefulness of a novel contrast-injection protocol for high-resolution abdominal computed tomography angiography (CTA) using nitroglycerin (NTG).

Methods

Abdominal CTA was performed in 80 patients using two 64-detector-row CT scanners. Forty patients were examined after administration of sublingual NTG (NTG group), while 40 were examined without NTG administration (non-NTG group). Arterial phase images were acquired with maximum intensity projection and volume rendering. Reduction rates: vessel cross-sectional areas ratio of 10 cm distal to origin at the superior mesenteric artery, contrast enhancements, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were assessed. Three reviewers evaluated degree of depiction of the peripancreatic vasculature using a four-point scale (1 = poor, 4 = excellent).

Results

Reduction rates were significantly lower in the NTG group (P < 0.001), while there were no significant differences in contrast enhancements, SNR, or CNR between groups. Visual evaluation results of the NTG group were significantly better than those of the non-NTG group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Abdominal CTA using NTG improved visualization of the abdominal peripheral vessels. This improved arterial view may be beneficial for preoperative evaluation of the arterial anatomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology (Services), Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital, 2-25 Kokutai-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama-Shi, Okayama, 700-8511, Japan

    Minori Hoshika, Norimi Nishiyama & Daisuke Suzuki

  2. Department of Radiology, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital, 2-25 Kokutai-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama, 700-8511, Japan

    Kotaro Yasui & Izumi Togami

  3. Department of Surgery, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital, 2-25 Kokutai-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama, 700-8511, Japan

    Takefumi Niguma & Toru Kojima

Authors
  1. Minori Hoshika
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  2. Kotaro Yasui
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  3. Takefumi Niguma
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  4. Toru Kojima
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  5. Norimi Nishiyama
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  6. Daisuke Suzuki
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  7. Izumi Togami
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Minori Hoshika.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

This study was a retrospective study using data obtained in routine clinical practice that were anonymized before analysis. The obligation to obtain informed consent was waived by the institutional review board.

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Hoshika, M., Yasui, K., Niguma, T. et al. Novel contrast-injection protocol for high-resolution abdominal CT-angiography: vascular visualization improvement with vasodilator. Abdom Radiol 42, 2571–2578 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1163-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1163-y

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