Spiral CT Angiography of the Abdominal Aorta

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Abstract
Enhancement characteristics of a nonionic, dimeric, isotonic contrast medium (iodixanol [Visipaque]) were compared with a nonionic, monomeric contrast medium (ioversol [Optiray]) of the same iodine concentration in spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdominal aorta. Spiral CTA was performed in 78 patients referred for suspected renal artery stenosis (n = 35) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 43). A test bolus was used to time the scan delay, and all patients were injected with 150 ml contrast medium (320 mgI/ml) of either iodixanol (n = 40) or ioversol (n = 38). Contrast enhancement was measured in the aorta, renal arteries, and renal parenchyma. All mean aortic enhancement was slightly higher with iodixanol than ioversol, measured at three different levels (celiac trunk 315 Hounsfield units [HU] versus 300 HU, renal arteries 325 HU versus 312 HU, aortic bifurcation 276 HU versus 266 HU). However, none of them were statistically significant (e.g., P = 0.26 at the celiac trunk level). Similar results were observed in renal artery and parenchyma enhancements. 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.