[Bolus administration in spiral CT of the upper abdomen]

In 60 patients the density increases in the abdominal aorta and pancreas were examined quantitatively the visualisation of the arterial liver blood flow qualitatively in a test volume by means of spiral CT and a feed or speed differentiation of 10 mm/s for three different contrast medium boli. It was shown that during the entire study over 24 seconds the boli with 100 ml contrast medium at injection speeds of 3 ml/s and 50 ml contrast medium at 1.5 ml/s resulted in a continual density increase of the abdominal aorta from 221 to 265 Hounsfield Units (HU) or 161-167 HU, respectively. For measuring the abdominal aorta the bolus of 50 ml contrast medium at 3 ml/s was less suitable than the boli of 100 ml contrast medium with 3 ml/s and 50 ml with 3 ml/s because of the rapid in density from 250 to 118 HE. The bolus of 50 ml contrast medium and 3 ml/s, on the other hand, with 54 HU enhancement of the pancreas was approximately equal to the larger amount of contrast medium of 100 ml contrast medium and 3 ml/s with 56 HU, whereas 50 ml contrast medium and 1.5 ml/s with 46 HU was inferior. While all boli could sufficiently enhance the extrahepatic section of the hepatic artery, the larger amount of contrast of 100 ml proved to be superior to the other boli in the visualization of central intrahepatic vascular branches.