Low contrast medium and radiation dose for hepatic computed tomography perfusion of rabbit VX2 tumor

Figure 1 Computed tomography perfusions using both 80 kVp protocol with iterative reconstruction (4 mL Visipaque 270, 354. 1 mgI/kg) and 120 kVp protocol with filtered back projection (5 mL Omnipaque 350, 573.8 mgI/kg) at a 24-h interval were performed for liver VX2 tumor in a rabbit (body weight, 3.05 kg). A-D: Pseudocolor perfusion maps with the 80 kVp protocol and iterative reconstruction for HAP, HPP, HBF and HPI, respectively; E-H: Pseudocolor perfusion maps with the 120 kVp protocol and FBP for HAP, HPP, HBF, and HPI, respectively; I,J: Arterial phase images obtained using the 80 kVp protocol with iterative reconstruction and 120 kVp protocol reveal a markedly enhanced mass with central necrotic change, respectively. Computed tomography perfusion maps obtained using low tube potential with low concentration contrast medium depict a hypervascular mass with central hypovascular component, which is comparable to that obtained using the conventional tube potential and concentration contrast medium protocol. IR: Iterative reconstruction; FBP: Filtered back projection; HAP: Hepatic arterial perfusion; HPP: Hepatic portal perfusion; HBP: Hepatic blood flow; HPI: Hepatic perfusion index.