Table 2 Modification of a standard chest trauma MDCT protocol in different clinical situations
From: Multidetector computed tomography of chest trauma: indications, technique and interpretation
Chest MDCT as a part of the whole-body examination | Higher current value (adequate for examination of the abdomen) |
Contrast media volume 100 ml, flow rate 3–4 ml/s | |
Trigger in descending aorta above the diaphragm (100 HU, delay 15 s) or scanning delay 30–40 s | |
Vascular trauma | Contrast media volume 80 ml, flow rate 4–5 ml/s |
Trigger in ascending aorta (80–100 HU, minimal possible delay—usually 4–5 s) | |
Optionally ECG triggering (examination of ascending aorta or heart) | |
Oblique reformated images in the plane of the aortic arch | |
Optionally 3D reconstructions (volume rendering, MIP) | |
Bronchial tree trauma | Optionally 3D reconstructions (virtual endoscopy, MinIP) |
Esophageal trauma | Optionally oral contrast agent (5–10 % solution of iodinated contrast material) |
Follow-up examination focused on lungs, bones or bronchi | Optionally non-contrast |
Optionally low-dose examination (20–50 eff. mAs) | |
Children | 80–100 kVa |
20–80 eff. mAsa | |
Contrast media volume 1–2 ml/kg | |
Flow rate dependent on needle size (22 G, 1.5 ml/s; 20 G, 2–3 ml/s; 18 G, 3–4 ml/s) |