Spiral CT of the thorax with reduced volume of contrast material: a comparative study

The effectiveness of spiral computed tomography (CT) of the thorax performed with 60 mL of 60% contrast material was compared with that of conventional dynamic incremental CT performed with 120 mL of 60% contrast material. Fifty patients in whom contrast material-enhanced thoracic CT examination was necessary were assigned to undergo either spiral CT or dynamic incremental CT. Vascular opacification and mediastinal-lung image quality were graded independently by two observers. Vascular opacification and lung image quality were better with spiral CT than with conventional CT. Results of this pilot study encourage the use of spiral CT to decrease the volume of contrast medium used in patients undergoing thoracic CT.