Vol. 45 (5): 1022-1032, September – October, 2019

doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2018.0366

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Charbel Saade 1, Nadine Hamieh 1, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Deeb 1, Maurice Haddad 1, Alain S. Abi-Ghanem 1, Diamond Ghieh 1, Fadi El-Merhi 1
1 Department of Radiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This hybrid retrospective and prospective study performed on 200 consecu­tive patients undergoing renal CTA, investigates the opacification of renal vasculature, radiation dose, and reader confidence.

Materials and Methods: 100 patients were assigned retrospectively to protocol A and the other 100 were allocated prospectively to protocol B. Both protocols implemented a contrast material and saline flow rate of 4.5 mL/sec. Protocol A utilized a 100 mL of low-osmolar nonionic IV contrast material (Ioversol 350 mg I/mL) while protocol B employed a patient-tailored contrast media formula using iso-osmolar non-ionic (Iodixanol 320 mg I/mL).

Results: Arterial opacification in the abdominal aorta and in the bilateral main proxi­mal renal arteries demonstrated no statistical significance (p>0.05). Only the main dis­tal renal artery of the left kidney in protocol B was statistically significant (p<0.046). In the venous circulation, the IVC demonstrated a significant reduction in opacification in protocol B (59.39 HU ± 19.39) compared to A (87.74 HU ± 34.06) (p<0.001). Mean CNR for protocol A (22.68 HU ± 13.72) was significantly higher than that of protocol B (14.75 HU ± 5.76 p< 0.0001). Effective dose was significantly reduced in protocol B (2.46 ± 0.74 mSv) compared to A (3.07 ± 0.68 mSv) (p<0.001). Mean contrast media volume was reduced in protocol B (44.56 ± 14.32 mL) with lower iodine concentration. ROC analysis demonstrated significantly higher area under the ROC curve for protocol B (p< 0.0001), with inter-reader agreement increasing from moderate to excellent in renal arterial visualization.

Conclusion: Employing a patient-tailored contrast media injection protocol shows a significant refinement in the visualization of renal vasculature and reader confidence during renal CTA.

Keywords: Computed Tomography Angiography; Kidney; Radiation Dosage

[Full Text]