Value of High Contrast Medium Dose in Brain CT

Abstract

Patients [55] with brain lesions were examined by computed tomography (CT) after 2 doses of contrast medium: a bolus injection of 65% meglumine diatrizoate, 1.5 ml/kg; and a bolus injection of 65% meglumine diatrizoate, 1.5 ml/kg, in combination with an infusion of 250 ml meglumine iodamide containing 110 mg I/ml. The studies were usually performed 2 days apart and were analyzed by 3 radiologists. In 25 patients, 1 or more of the radiologists changed the diagnosis or the number or size of the lesions when the 2 scans were observed separately. In 3 patients, the primary tumor or metastases were seen in the study performed after the higher dose only, and, in 2 other patients having cerebral metastases, a greater number of metastases were detected in the high dose study. The lower dose containing 15-31 g I (306 mg I/kg) seems to be inadequate in CT of the brain.