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Peak enhancement of the liver in children using power injection and helical CT
L Ruess1, D I Bulas, D C Kushner
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
Insights
Power injection with helical CT in children optimizes hepatic enhancement. Computer-automated scan technology determines peak liver enhancement timing and levels for pediatric abdominal CT scans.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Imaging
Background:
- Helical CT scans are crucial for pediatric abdominal imaging.
- Optimizing contrast enhancement is essential for diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine peak hepatic enhancement levels and timing in children.
- To evaluate the utility of power injection, helical CT, and computer-automated scan technology.
Main Methods:
- 49 pediatric abdominal CT studies were analyzed.
- Patients were grouped by weight and contrast dose.
- Contrast injection rates varied by body weight.
Main Results:
- Peak hepatic enhancement varied by group, ranging from 45 to 62 Hounsfield units.
- Time to peak enhancement ranged from 3 to 12 seconds post-injection.
- Higher contrast doses in younger children (Group 1B) showed higher peak enhancement.
Conclusions:
- Computer-automated scan technology effectively determines peak hepatic enhancement in pediatric patients.
- The findings provide data to optimize contrast administration for pediatric helical abdominal CT.
- This can improve diagnostic quality in pediatric abdominal imaging.
Objective:
Our objective was to determine the level and timing of peak hepatic enhancement in children using power injection of contrast media, helical CT, and computer-automated scan technology.
Subjects And Methods:
Forty-nine abdominal CT studies were performed using computer-automated scan technology. Patients were divided into four groups on the basis of body weight and contrast dose (group 1A, < or = 20 kg and 2 ml/kg; group 1B, < or = 20 kg and 3 ml/kg; group 2, 21-40 kg and 2 ml/kg; group 3, > 40 kg and < or = 2 ml/kg). Contrast injection rates were based on body weight (groups 1A and 1B, 1 ml/sec; group 2, 1.5 ml/sec; and group 3, 2 ml/sec). The peak hepatic enhancement level in Hounsfield units and the time to reach peak enhancement were determined for each patient.
Results:
The mean peak hepatic enhancement and time to peak enhancement after completion of contrast injection were group 1A, 45 H and 11 sec; group 1B, 62 H and 3 sec; group 2, 52 H and 12 sec; and group 3, 45 H and 10 sec.
Conclusion:
The level and timing of peak hepatic enhancement in pediatric patients can be obtained using computer-automated scan technology. These data may then be used to optimize hepatic enhancement when obtaining helical abdominal CT scans of pediatric patients.