PURPOSE:
The aim of the study is to prospectively define a Tube Voltage Tailored Contrast Medium Injection Protocol to personalize the correct amount of contrast medium for oncologic patients.
METHODS:
In this single centre prospective randomized study will enroll Oncologic Patients admitted at Sant'Andrea Hospital of Rome that will underwent enhanced-TC. Pregnant patients and patients with any classic contraindication to iodinated contrast media (CM) iv injection will be excluded.
Our population will be comprised by 300 patients, divided into six groups, 50 patients for each group, according to BMI, different kVp and mgI/kg of CM (Iomeprol [400 mgI/ml] (Bracco, Milan, Italy).
An objective image quality analysis will be assessed with contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast enhancement index (CEI) of abdominal parenchymas. Furthermore a subjective analysis of image quality will be performed in blind by two radiologists in consensus with a 5-point Likert scale.
Patients with suspected or confirmed liver lesion (both hypervascular and hypovascular) will undergo MRI of the abdomen as a follow-up within 6 months.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
We will expect to find a significant reduction of both contrast media volume and radiation dose with low kVp while maintaining a diagnostic image quality without any loss of diagnostic accuracy.
EXPECTED CONCLUSIONS:
Significant reduction of both contrast media volume and radiation dose represents an important advantage in oncologic patients considering that they underwent several enhanced-TC during their follow-up.
Adjusting CM volume to the weight of the patient and reducing radiation exposure of the oncologic patients maintaining the same image quality and diagnostic accuracy could be an opportunity for progress in the management and evaluation of these patients and it could reduce side effects related to CM and with the progressive radiation dose accumulation. Furthermore, having standardized data, it will be possible to compare studies with each other in order to significantly reduce the bias.