PEAK ENHANCEMENT OF THE LIVER IN CHILDREN USING POWER INJECTION AND HELICAL CT

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to determine the level and timing of peak hepatic enhancement in children using power injection of contrast med ia, helical CT, and computer-automated scan technology. SUBJECTS AND M ETHODS. Forty-nine abdominal CT studies were performed using computer- automated scan technology. Patients were divided into four groups on t he basis of body weight and contrast dose (group 1A, less than or equa l to 20 kg and 2 ml/kg; group 1B, less than or equal to 20 kg and 3 mV kg; group 2, 21-40 kg and 2 ml/kg; group 3, >40 kg and less than or eq ual to 2 ml/kg). Contrast injection rates were based on body weight (g roups 1A and 1B, 1 ml/sec; group 2, 1.5 ml/sec; and group 3, 2 ml/sec) . The peak hepatic enhancement level in Hounsfield units and the time to reach peak enhancement were determined for each patient. RESULTS. T he mean peak hepatic enhancement and time to peak enhancement after co mpletion of contrast injection were group 1A, 45 H and 11 sec; group 1 B, 62 H and 3 sec; group 2, 52 H and 12 sec; and group 3, 45 H and 10 sec. CONCLUSION. The level and timing of peak hepatic enhancement in p ediatric patients can be obtained using computer-automated scan techno logy. These data may then be used to optimize hepatic enhancement when obtaining helical abdominal CT scans of pediatric patients.