E-ISSN: 1305-3612
Carotid CT angiography: comparison of image quality for left versus right arm injections
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Neuroradiology - Original Article
VOLUME: 17 ISSUE: 3
P: 195-198
September 2011

Carotid CT angiography: comparison of image quality for left versus right arm injections

Diagn Interv Radiol 2011;17(3):195-198
DOI: 10.4261/1305-3825.DIR.3290-10.1
Gülen Demirpolat 1
Mürvet Yüksel 2
Gülgün Kavukçu 3
Deniz Tuncel 4
1. Department of Radiology, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University School of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
2. Department of Radiology, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University School of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
3. Department of Radiology, Ege University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
4. Department of Neurology, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University School of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 18.01.2010
Accepted Date: 29.05.2010
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ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

To evaluate the differences in image quality of carotid computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of patients injected with contrast material in their right arms versus patients injected with contrast material in their left arms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who had cerebrovascular accidents and subsequently underwent CTA were included in the study. Contrast material was injected into the right arms of 44 patients and into the left arms of 46 patients. Source images of a total of 90 CTAs were retrospectively evaluated for perivenous streak artifacts and contrast material reflux into the veins of the neck and upper thorax. After adjusting for differences in gender, the relationship between the injection site and the intensity of perivenous streak artifacts and venous reflux was determined.

RESULTS

Perivenous streak artifacts and venous reflux were demonstrated in patients who underwent either right or left arm injections. However, the intensity of perivenous streak artifacts was stronger in patients who were injected with contrast material in the left arm. Venous reflux into the neck and upper thorax veins was also more severe and more frequent with left arm injections. A decreased retrosternal distance facilitated reversed flow into the veins when the left arm injection was used.

CONCLUSION

Perivenous beam hardening streak artifacts and venous reflux could not be prevented with right or left arm injections. However, patients who were injected with contrast material in their right arms showed fewer artifacts, thus allowing for better quality images on CTA.