Introduction of an individually optimized protocol for the injection of contrast medium for coronary CT angiography

The aim of this study was to determine whether individually tailored protocols for the injection of contrast medium (CM) result in higher and more homogeneous vascular attenuation throughout the coronary arteries at coronary CT angiography compared with conventional injection protocols using fixed injection parameters. Of 120 patients included in the study, 80 patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 received 80 mL of CM at 6 mL/s. For group 2 injection parameters were individually adjusted to patient weight, the duration of CT data acquisition, and attenuation parameters following a test bolus. In the control group (group 3) the volume of CM was adjusted to the duration of CT data acquisition and injected at 5 mL/s. Attenuation was measured in the proximal, middle, and distal right coronary artery (RCA), in the proximal and middle left anterior descending artery (LAD), and in cranial and caudal sections of both ventricles. Patient parameters, scan delay, and scan duration did not differ significantly between the groups. Mean CM volume was 82.5 mL (flow rate 5.1 mL/s) in group 2 and 73.5 mL in group 3. Attenuation in both RCA and LAD was significantly higher for group 2 vs. group 3 (RCA: 414.9(±49.9)–396.1(±52.1) HU vs. 366.0(±64.3)–341.6(±72.5) HU; LAD: 398.9(±48.6)–364.6(±44.6) HU vs. 356.3(±69.5)–323.0(±67.2) HU). For group 1 vs. group 2 only attenuation in the distal RCA differed significantly: 396.1(±52.1) vs. 370.7(±70.5) HU. Individually tailored CM injection protocols yield higher attenuation, especially in the distal segments of the coronary vessels, compared with injection protocols using fixed injection parameters.