Central venous stenosis of left versus right arm: its prevalence and effects on image quality in CT of the neck

Objective

The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the prevalence of the left and right central venous stenosis by measuring the narrowest area and (2) to assess the effects of the central venous stenosis on perivenous artifacts and reflux of contrast material, in CT of the neck.

Materials and methods

Images of a total of 443 CT of the neck with an injection of contrast material into the left (n = 249) or right (n = 194) arm were retrospectively reviewed. The maximum stenosis area in the central vein ipsilateral to the injection side was measured in each patient. We also graded the perivenous artifacts and reflux of contrast material with 4-point scale. These results were compared between patients with right arm injection and those with left arm injection.

Results

The maximum stenosis area in the left arm was significantly smaller than that in the right arm. The stenosis was most frequently identified at the medial clavicular region. The mean scores of the perivenous artifacts and the reflux of contrast material were significantly higher in patients with left arm injection than in those with right arm injection. The perivenous artifacts and reflux of contrast material were more prominent in patients with central venous stenosis (maximum stenosis area <50 mm²) than those without stenosis.

Conclusions

The image degradation in CT of the neck, due to perivenous artifacts and venous reflux, can be reduced with the right arm injection of contrast material when compared with the left arm injection.