Acquisition Phase

Phase Included

Scan Delay

Respiration Phase

Anatomical Coverage

Non Contrast

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Arterial Phase

Yes

Bolus triggered

Inspiration

Diaphragm through lower extremities to include entire vasculature

Venous Phase

Yes

30 seconds post-arterial phase

Inspiration

Just above the knees through lower extremities to include entire vasculature

Delayed Phase

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Scan Comments: Dual energy is useful for post-processing applications such as bone removal and virtual non-contrast. All scans are performed using the ALARA principle. 3D post-processing is performed with this protocol.

 

Technical Parameters

Parameters

kVp

100 / 140

Effective mAs

Use dose reduction software

Care Dose Reference mAs

250 / 193

Time (Rotation)

0.5 sec

Average Acquisition Time

20-25 sec

Collimation

32 x 0.6mm

Pitch Value

0.8

Scan Direction

Craniocaudal

Comments: Images are acquired using 100/140 kVp setting with a Sn filter. Dose reduction software is used to reduce patient dose. The pitch value should remain below 1.0 to reduce any artifacts during post-processing.

 

Reconstruction Parameters

Soft Tissue

Bone

Thin Data

Thin Data

Slice Thickness

 3 mm

5 mm

 0.75 mm

0.75 mm

Reconstruction Spacing

 3 mm

5 mm

 0.5 mm

0.5 mm

Reconstruction Algorithm

D30f

B70f

Q40f

B20f

Window Width and Level

410/10

1776/176

410/10

410/10

Reconstruction Comments: When generating mixed images, the DE composition is set to 0.8. 3D MIP reconstructions are also performed.

 

Reconstruction Parameters

Thin Data

Lung

Coronal

Sagittal

Slice Thickness

1.5 mm

3 mm

3 mm

3 mm

Reconstruction Spacing

1 mm

3 mm

3 mm

3 mm

Reconstruction Algorithm

D30f

B80f

D30f

D30f

Window Width and Level

410/10

1600/-500

410/10

410/10

Reconstruction Comments: When generating mixed images, the DE composition is set to 0.8. 3D MIP reconstructions are also performed.

 

Contrast Parameters

Parameters

Contrast Type

Non-ionic

Contrast Volume

120 mL

Saline Flush

N/A

Injection Rate

4-5 mL/sec

Oral Contrast

H2O

Contrast Volume

1000 mL

Comments: Bolus tracking is performed off the abdominal aorta using a 230 HU trigger setting. The injection rate should not exceed 5 mL/sec. to protract the contrast bolus.