Helical CT protocols for the abdomen and pelvis: A survey

OBJECTIVE. We surveyed members of the Society of Computed Body Tomography/M agnetic Resonance to evaluate current techniques used for helical CT in the abdomen and pelvis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The survey was distributed to 70 members (36 institu tions) of the Society of Computed Body Tomography/Magnetic Resonance, The s urvey included general questions related to abdominal and pelvic helical CT and also asked the members to write a protocol for 12 hypothetical requisi tions. RESULTS. Thirty-two members (46%) responded, representing 28 institutions ( 78%). The number of protocols for helical CT of the abdomen and pelvis at e ach institution ranges from ? to 35 (median, Il). IV contrast material is a dministered for 90% (median) of abdominal and pelvic CT examinations. Nonio nic contrast material is used for 68% (median) of these examinations, IV co ntrast material is used by 100% of institutions for turner staging protocol s except for one institution that does not use IV contrast material for lym phoma staging. Fifty percent of the institutions obtain two- or three-phase s of liver images for breast cancer staging. For all protocols, the average collimation and reconstruction interval is 7 mm except for renal (5 mm) an d adrenal (4 mm) protocols. Rectal contrast material is administered most c ommonly for colon cancer staging (39% of institutions). CONCLUSION. There is a wide range in the number of protocols used for helic al CT in the abdomen and pelvis among the responding institutions. Most pro tocols include use of nonionic IV contrast material injected at a rate of 3 ml/sec and a collimation of 7 mm.