Radiologists can boost patient safety without significantly affecting the quality of the images by cutting the dose of contrast media in coronary CT angiography, according to a new study in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Radiologists can boost patient safety without significantly affecting the quality of the images by cutting the dose of contrast media in coronary CT angiography, according to a new study in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
An analysis of 108 CT angiography studies done using a 320-detector-row CT scanner found that a contrast media protocol based on 60 milliliters of iopamidol “had sufficient enhancement in more than 96 percent of coronary segments,” said Frank Rybicki, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and one of the authors of the study.
Many centers use a higher iodine load, one comparable to 80 milliliters of iopamidol, the study’s authors said. It’s overkill, the study found.
All patients were imaged with a standardized protocol: iopamidol 370 followed by 40 mL of saline, both administered at a rate of 6 mL/s. Two radiologists assessed image quality throughout the coronary arteries. While those receiving the equivalent of 80 milliliters of iopamidol had slightly better image quality, the extra contrast, Rybicki said, “means unnecessary costs and increased risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) to the patients.” The risk of CIN is of special concern for these patients because they commonly have a renal insufficiency, a major risk factor for CIN, he added.
The analysis of patients with body mass indexes greater than 30 found that 92 percent of coronary segments had sufficient enhancement, which Rybicki said supports the general use of 60 milliliters of iopamidol for CT angiography done on 320 detector row CT scanners.
The Reading Room: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer Screenings, and COVID-19
November 3rd 2020In this podcast episode, Dr. Shalom Kalnicki, from Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the disparities minority patients face with cancer screenings and what can be done to increase access during the pandemic.
Could Virtual Non-Contrast Images from Photon-Counting CT Reduce Radiation Dosing with CCTA?
March 28th 2024Emerging research on coronary artery calcium scoring for the assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) suggests the use of virtual non-contrast images from photon-counting CT may lead to a nearly 20 percent reduction in radiation dosing.
FDA Clears CT-Based AI Tools for PE Detection and Stroke Severity Assessment
March 26th 2024The artificial intelligence (AI) modalities CINA-iPE and CINA-ASPECTS may facilitate improved detection of incidental pulmonary embolism and stroke evaluation, respectively, based on computed tomography (CT) scans.