SPIRAL CT FOR THE EVALUATION OF HILAR PAT HOLOGIES IN COMPARISON TO CONVENTIONAL SEQUENTIAL CT

The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic value of sp iral CT with that of conventional CT in hilar pathologies. Initially, we determined the minimum amount of contrast material necessary which still produced a good enhancement of the pulmonary vessels. After test ing with 20 patients, we found that a bolus of 60 ml injected at a rat e of 6 ml/s was optimal. This was then used for 30 patients who were s ubsequently examined with both CT techniques. In nearly every case, th e spiral CT examination produced a significantly better enhancement of the pulmonary vessels than conventional CT. In 35 patients the diagno stic value of the spiral CT was compared with the conventional method. In 19 cases (54 %) its diagnostic value was higher, and for 7 of thes e (20 %), an optimal diagnosis was made with spiral CT whereas no clea r diagnosis was possible with conventional CT.