Table 1 Pulmonary CT angiography protocol used at our institution
From: Looking beyond the thrombus: essentials of pulmonary artery imaging on CT
Indication | Contrast, flow rate | kVpa | mAs(AP scout) | Reconstructions | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Congenital | Power or hand injection 3 ml/s, 50 ml contrast (300 mg I/ml), no saline chaser | Small = 80, medium = 100, large =  120 80–120 | Tube current modulation | Axial: 3 × 2 mm, 2 × 1 mm Coronal: 3 × 2 Axial MIPS: 8 mm | 25 s delay, Complete thorax |
Pulmonary embolism | Dual head power injector 4–5 ml/s (350 mg/ml), + 50 ml saline chaser | 80–140 | Tube current modulation | Axial: 3 × 2 mm, 2 × 1 mm Coronal: 3×2 Axial MIPS: 8 mm | Weight-based contrast, Bolus track or timing bolus, Minimal post threshold delay |
Pulmonary hypertension | Power or hand injection 2–3 ml/s, no saline chaser | 80–140 | Tube current modulation | Axial: 1 × 0.5 mm, 3 × 2 Coronal: 3 × 2 Axial MIPS: 8 mm | Low kVp, 50–75 ml contrast, Additional expiratory scans, HRCT recons |
Pregnant patient | Dual head power injector 4–5 ml/s, + 50 ml saline chaser | 80–100 | Tube current modulation | Axial: 3 × 2 mm Coronal: 3 × 2 Axial MIPS: 8 mm | Low kVp, max. 75 ml contrast, Z-axis coverage: Aortic arch - diaphragm |
Renal dysfunction | Dual head power injector 3–4 ml/s, + 50 ml saline chaser | 80–120 | Tube current modulation | Axial: 3 × 2 mm Coronal: 3 × 2 Axial MIPS: 8 mm | 30–75 ml contrast, preferably on 256 MDCT, Trigger from SVC |