Differentiation of Two Contrast Media Using Dual-energy CT / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of using dual-energy CT scanner to differentiate two contrast media bismuth and gadolinium. Materials and Methods Two phantoms containing contrast media of different ratio were scanned on dual-energy CT. Group 1 was mixture of iodine and gadolinium solution with volume ratio of 0∶1, 1∶6, 1∶1, 6∶1 and 1∶0. Group 2 was mixture of iodine and bismuth solution with mass ratio of 0∶1, 1∶6, 1∶1, 6∶1, 1∶0. Monoenergetic image reconstruction was performed at 80 keV. Liver VNC software was used for virtual scanning and iodine concentration analysis. Results Under 80 keV reconstruction, the measured CT attenuation of Group 1 was 379-383 HU, and 170-173 HU in group 2. The iodine concentration of two groups was not signiifcantly different between the calculated and actual iodine concentration (P>0.05). The dual-energy CT can distinguish two contrast media. Iodine and gadolinium contrast media were not statistically different, while iodine and bismuth contrast media agent could be easily differentiated. Conclusion Dual-energy CT can distinguish two contrast media with different attenuation.