Purpose: During computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), a decrease in the CT value of the pulmonary artery may be observed due to poor contrast enhancement, even though the imaging is performed at the optimum timing while continuously injecting a contrast medium. This study focused on the increase in blood flow in the superior and inferior vena cava during inspiration that affects the decrease in the CT value of the pulmonary artery and investigated a radiography method in which a delay time was set after inspiration in clinical cases.
Methods: A total of 50 patients who underwent CTPA for suspected pulmonary thromboembolism were included. Using the bolus tracking method, we monitored the pulmonary arteries before and after inspiration, and investigated the CT value changes.
Results: A decrease in the CT value of the pulmonary artery after inspiration was observed in approximately 30% of cases. By setting the delay time, the contrast enhancement effect before and after inspiration became equivalent.
Conclusion: As a result of this study, avoiding a decrease in the CT value of the pulmonary artery is possible by setting a delay time after inspiration, which is considered useful during CTPA.
Keywords: Valsalva maneuver; bolus tracking technique; computed tomography (CT); computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).