Spiral CT angiography of the abdominal aorta - Comparison of iodixanol andioversol

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. Enhancement characteristics of a nonionic, dimeri c, isotonic contrast medium (iodixanol [Vi-sipaque]) were compared with a n onionic, monomeric contrast medium (ioversol [Optiray]) of the same iodine concentration in spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdomi nal aorta. METHODS. Spiral CTA was performed in 78 patients referred for suspected ren al artery stenosis (It = 35) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 43), A test bolus was used to time the scan delay, and all patients were injected with 150 mi contrast medium (320 mgI/ml) of either iodixanol (a = 40) or iovers ol (n = 38), Contrast enhancement was measured in the aorta, renal arteries , and renal parenchyma, RESULTS. All mean aortic enhancement was slightly higher,vith iodixanol tha n ioversol, measured at three different levels (celiac trunk 315 Hounsfield units [HU] versus 300 HU, renal arteries 325 HU versus 312 HU, aortic bifu rcation 276 NU versus 266 HU), However, none of them were statistically sig nificant (e.g., P = 0.26 at the celiac trunk level), Similar results were o bserved in renal artery and parenchyma enhancements, CONCLUSIONS. Iodixanol and ioversol had similar enhancement characteristics in the early arterial phase. Both substances were well tolerated and seem to be well suited for spiral CTA.