Purpose: To compare two different techniques for the administration of the bolus of contrast material (cm) in coronary angiography with multislice CT (MSCT) scanner.
Materials and methods: Thirty consecutive patients were divided into two groups. In group 1 contrast material was administered with the monophasic protocol (140 ml of cm at 4 ml/s). In group 2 contrast material was administered with the biphasic protocol (70 ml of cm at 4 ml/s and 70 ml at 3 ml/s). The angiographic scan was performed in both groups with a 16-row MSCT scanner. Three regions of interest were drawn in each scan throughout the data-set in order to measure attenuation: 1) ascending aorta (ROI1); 2) descending aorta (ROI2); 3) pulmonary artery (ROI3). Attenuation was also assessed at the origin of the main coronary arteries.
Results: No significant differences of the attenuation values were observed at the origin of the coronary arteries (p>0.05). The attenuation profile of the monophasic protocol showed higher and longer attenuation values than the biphasic protocol. CONCLUSIONS. The biphasic administration of contrast material does not supply significant advantages on the enhancement of the great vessels and the coronary arteries in 16-row MSCT coronary angiography.