Factors influencing enhancement timing in a triple-phase abdominal CT angiography protocol in dogs

To evaluate the enhancement accuracy of a triple-phase abdominal CT angiography (CTA) protocol in dogs and explore the patient, scan, and contrast parameters associated with accuracy of enhancement.

233 client-owned dogs that underwent routine abdominal CTA.

During each CTA study, the subjective timing accuracy (early, ideal, late) of the 3 obtained vascular phases (arterial, venous, delayed) was scored by consensus (2 reviewers) at 4 target organs (liver, pancreas, left kidney, and spleen). These scores were evaluated for statistical associations with 21 study variables (patient, scan, and contrast medium). The objective enhancement (HU) for each target organ was also compared statistically with subjective timing accuracy scores and the study variables.

The study protocol performed best for the pancreas, moderately for the liver, and worse for the spleen and left kidney. Measurements of scan length and time were associated positively with phase lateness for most target organs and phases. Increased heart rate was the most significant patient factor associated positively with phase lateness within the liver (all phases), pancreas (arterial and venous phases), and kidney (arterial phase). Contrast medium variables were less associated with timing accuracy in this protocol. Objective enhancement (HU) correlated poorly with subjective phase timing accuracy and study variables.

Scan time, scan length, and heart rate were the predominant variables contributing to lateness in this canine abdominal CTA protocol. The findings of this exploratory study may aid in protocol adjustment and choice of included anatomy for dogs undergoing routine abdominal CTA.