Author/Authors :
Scialpi، Michele نويسنده Radiological and Odontostomatological Sciences, Complex Structure of Radiology, Perugia University, S, Maria della Misericordia Hospital, S, Andrea de , , Rebonato، Alberto نويسنده Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Division
of Radiology 2, Perugia University, S. Maria della Misericordia
Hospital, Perugia, Italy , , Cagini، Lucio نويسنده Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Thoracic
Surgery, Perugia University, S. Maria dellaMisericordia Hospital,
Perugia, Italy , , Brunese، Luca نويسنده Department of Radiology, University of Molise, Campobasso,
Italy , , Piscioli، Irene نويسنده Department of Radiology, Budrio Hospital, Azienda USL
Bologna, Budrio, Italy , , Pierotti، Luisa نويسنده Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Division
of Radiology 2, Perugia University, S. Maria della Misericordia
Hospital, Perugia, Italy , , Bellantonio، Lucio نويسنده Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Division
of Radiology 2, Perugia University, S. Maria della Misericordia
Hospital, Perugia, Italy , , D’Andrea، Alfredo نويسنده Division of Radiology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital,
Aversa, Caserta, Italy , , Rotondo، Antonio نويسنده Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and
Surgery, F. Magrassi, Second University of Naples, Naples,
Italy ,
Abstract :
Currently computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has
become a widely accepted clinical tool in the diagnosis of acute
pulmonary embolism (PE). To report split-bolus single-pass
64-multidetector-row CT (MDCT) protocol for diagnosis of PE. MDCT
split-bolus results in 40 patients suspicious of PE were analyzed in
terms of image quality of target pulmonary vessels (TPVs) and occurrence
and severity of flow-related artifact, flow-related artifact, false
filling defect of the pulmonary veins and beam hardening streak
artifacts. Dose radiation to patients was calculated. MDCT split-bolus
protocol allowed diagnostic images of high quality in all cases.
Diagnosis of PE was obtained in 22 of 40 patients. Mean attenuation for
target vessels was higher than 250 HU all cases: 361 ± 98 HU in
pulmonary artery trunk (PAT); 339 ± 93 HU in right pulmonary artery
(RPA); 334 ± 100 HU in left pulmonary artery (LPA). Adequate enhancement
was obtained in the right atrium (RA):292 ± 83 HU; right pulmonary vein
(RPV): 302 ± 91 HU, and left pulmonary vein (LPV): 291 ± 83 HU. The flow
related artifacts and the beam hardening streak artifacts have been
detected respectively in 4 and 25 patients. No false filling defect of
the pulmonary veins was revealed. MDCT split-bolus technique by
simultaneous opacification of pulmonary arteries and veins represents an
accurate technique for diagnosis of acute PE, removes the false filling
defects of the pulmonary veins, and reduces flow related
artifacts.
