New thoracic imaging approach can pinpoint underlying venou...( CINCINNATI University of Cincinnati ...)

CINCINNATI University of Cincinnati (UC) radiologists have developed a new technique for capturing images of chest veins that eases diagnosis of venous diseases.

Multi-detector computed tomography (CT) scanners are traditionally used to create three-dimensional images of arteries, the vessels which carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart and distribute blood throughout the body. Veins, smaller vessels that return blood to the heart, are more difficult to accurately image.

Developed by Cristopher Meyer, MD and Achala Vagal, MD, the new protocol allows radiologists to compensate for the extra time it takes contrast solution to reach the veins so useful images can be produced using the CT scanner.

We found that the rapid-imaging scanners were almost too fast for venous studies, explains Vagal, a UC assistant professor and radiologist at University Hospital. By the time the contrast reached the patients veins, there were too many artifacts to make any meaningful conclusions about possible diseasefor example, blood clots.

Venous disease is rare and can be difficult to pinpoint, she adds. This new protocol uses the same imaging equipment in a novel way that allows us to acquire better venous images and make good clinical decisions.

Vagal presented guidelines for this thoracic imaging protocol at the North American Society of Cardiovascular Imagings 35th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 8.

For this new imaging technique, the CT technologist prepares two syringes of contrast: The first includes 140 cubic centimeters (CC) of undiluted contrast; the second contains a diluted mixture of 100 CC of contrast and 10 CC of saline solution.

The key to getting accurate clinical images of the veins is in the timing, Vagal says.

Both syringes are given consecutively at a rate of four CC per second, with a 60-second delay between the final injection and initiation of t
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