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Multi-detector row CT of the head and neck: comparison of different volumes of contrast material with and without a saline chaser

  • Head and Neck Radiology
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Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different volumes of contrast material with and without a saline chaser on tissue enhancement in multidetector row CT (MDCT) of the head and neck.

Methods

In a blind prospective fashion, 120 patients were randomized into the following four groups: group 1, 80 ml contrast material administered at a flow rate of 2.0 ml/s; group 2, 80 ml followed by 40 ml saline at 2.0 ml/s; group 3, 60 ml at 1.5 ml/s; and group 4, 60 ml followed by 30 ml saline at 1.5 ml/s. The attenuation values of the carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and muscle were measured at an interval of 1.5 s in each patient. The degree of perivenous artifacts was subjectively assessed.

Results

Mean attenuation values in the carotid artery and internal jugular vein were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4. The width of the diagnostic window (both carotid and jugular enhancement >150 HU) were significantly longer in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4. The addition of a saline chaser did not result in improved vascular enhancement or a wider diagnostic window, but reduced perivenous artifacts, compared with using contrast material alone.

Conclusion

Reduction of contrast material from 80 to 60 ml results in insufficient enhancement of neck vessels. In addition, the benefit of a saline chaser technique is not obvious except for its ability to reduce perivenous artifacts.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, 445 Gil-dong Kangdong-Gu, Seoul, 134-701, South Korea

    Dae Young Yoon, Su Yeon You, Chul Soon Choi, Suk Ki Chang, Eun Joo Yun, Young Lan Seo, Sang Joon Park, Yu-Jin Lee & Jeung Hee Moon

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kangdong Seong-Sim Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, 445 Gil-dong Kangdong-Gu, Seoul, 134-701, South Korea

    Young-Soo Rho & Jin-Hwan Kim

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  1. Dae Young Yoon
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  2. Su Yeon You
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  3. Chul Soon Choi
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Correspondence to Dae Young Yoon.

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Yoon, D.Y., You, S.Y., Choi, C.S. et al. Multi-detector row CT of the head and neck: comparison of different volumes of contrast material with and without a saline chaser. Neuroradiology 48, 935–942 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-006-0146-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-006-0146-4

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