Contrast injection via implantable port
Abstract:
Introduction: To compare the contrast enhancement (CE) value, injection rate and contrast material (CM) volume with and without the implanted port system during dynamic hepatic computed tomography (CT) scan.
Methods: In total, 169 patients who underwent dynamic hepatic CT scan were assigned to one of two protocols. In particular, 87 patients underwent scanning with the conventional CM injection protocol and 82 patients underwent scanning with the implanted port system and a 20 % reduction in the CM volume. The CE value in the aorta at the level of the celiac artery’s origin at the arterial phase and the hepatic parenchyma at the portal vein phase, the injection rate and the CM volume during CT scan with and without the implanted port system were measured and compared.
Results: The CE values in the aorta at the level of the celiac artery’s origin were 272.5 ± 47.0 Hounsfield unit (HU) with the implanted port system and 275.9 ± 46.3 HU without the implanted port system. The CE values in the hepatic parenchyma were 45.5 ± 8.2 HU with the implanted port system and 47.7 ± 8.5 HU without the implanted port system. The injection rates and CM volumes were 2.7 mL/s and 83.7 mL with the implanted port system and 3.3 mL/s and 103.7 mL without the implanted port system, respectively.
Conclusion: The implanted port system was useful in reducing the injection rate and CM volume by approximately 20 % during dynamic hepatic CT scan without reducing the CE value.
Implications for practice: This study showed that the use of an implanted port system will attenuate the injection rate, consequently mitigating the perception of warmth and vascular discomfort. Consequently, this intervention can possibly alleviate the patient’s burden.
Reference:
Moriwake R, Masuda T, Tamada T, Ikenaga H, Sanai H, Sato S, Yoshida K, Funama Y. Usefulness of contrast injection methods with the implanted port system during dynamic hepatic computed tomography scan. Radiography (Lond). 2025 May 21;31(4):102976. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2025.102976. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40409247.