Comparison of Rhenium and Iodine as Contrast Agents in X-Ray Imaging

The majority of X-ray contrast agents (XCA) are made with iodine, but iodine-based XCA (I-XCA) exhibit low contrast in high kVp X-rays due to iodine's low atomic number (Z = 53) and K-edge (33.1 keV). While rhenium is a transition metal with a high atomic number (Z = 75) and K-edge (71.7 keV), the utilization of rhenium-based XCA (Re-XCA) in X-ray imaging techniques has not been studied in depth. Our study had two objectives: (1) to compare both the image quality and the absorbed dose of I- and Re-XCA and (2) to prepare and image a rhenium-doped scaffold. Procedures. I- and Re-XCA were prepared and imaged from 50 to 120 kVp by Micro-computed tomography (µCT) and digital radiography and from 120 to 220 kVp by planar X-ray imaging. The scans were repeated using 0.1 to 1.6 mm thick copper filters to harden the X-ray beam. A rhenium-doped scaffold was prepared via electrospinning, used to coat catheters, and imaged at 90 kVp by µCT.

I-XCA have a greater contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at 50 and 80 kVp, but Re-XCA have a greater CNR at >120 kVp. The difference in CNR is increased as the thickness of the copper filters is increased. For instance, the percent CNR improvement of rhenium over iodine is 14.2% with a 0.6 mm thick copper filter, but it is 59.1% with a 1.6 mm thick copper filter, as shown at 120 kVp by µCT. Upon coating them with a rhenium-doped scaffold, the catheters became radiopaque.

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we showed that it is possible to reduce the absorbed dose of high kVp X-rays while allowing the acquisition of high-quality images. Furthermore, radiopaque catheters have the potential of enhancing the contrast during catheterizations and helping physicians to place catheters inside patients more rapidly and precisely.