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Effect of portal venous flow augmentation on liver enhancement with CT
P Garcia1, V Bonaldi, P M Bret
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of portal flow augmentation on hepatic computed tomographic (CT) enhancement.
Methods:
Thirteen patients undergoing follow-up CT of the liver within 6 months of initial study ingested 470 mL of Ensure 30 min before the second examination. Contrast medium injection and scanning parameters were identical for both studies.
Results:
The time to peak and the maximum and mean liver enhancements were 68 s, 56 HU, and 46 HU, respectively, for the examinations without Ensure and 68 s, 53 HU, and 44 HU for the examinations with Ensure. No significant difference was found between the two groups when mean liver enhancement was calculated over 3-s time intervals.
Conclusion:
Portal venous flow augmentation induced by a meal had no effect on liver enhancement.