Contrast Media-Doped Hydrodissection During Thermal Ablation: Optimizing Contrast Media Concentration for Improved Visibility on CT Images

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to determine a concentration of iodinated contrast media in saline and 5% dextrose in water (D5W) for organ hydrodissection, a technique used to physically separate and protect tissues adjacent to thermal ablations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 28 samples were prepared from 1:1000-1:1 iohexol or iothalamate meglumine contrast media in either normal saline or D5W. Samples alone or juxtaposed with a homogeneous liver-mimicking phantom were imaged by CT using 80-120 kVp and 10-300 mAs. Mean CT numbers and noise were measured from the fluid, background air, phantom adjacent to the fluid, and phantom distant from the fluid. Visibility was determined from the contrast-to-noise ratio between the fluid and phantom, whereas streaking artifact was quantified by relative noise in the phantom. Measures were individually fit using multiple linear regression to determine an optimal contrast-to-fluid ratio for increased visualization without streaking. Contrast media-and blood-doped saline and D5W were also tested to determine whether such doping altered their electrical conductivity. RESULTS. Iohexol concentration most influenced CT number; volumetric ratios of 1: 1000-1:1 produced 20 HU to over 3000 HU. CT numbers were weakly dependent on x-ray tube voltage, whereas contrast-to-noise ratio and streaking artifacts were somewhat dependent on tube output. An optimal ratio of iohexol in fluid was determined to be 1:50. There was no significant difference between the electrical impedances of doped and pure saline or D5W (p > 0.5, all cases). CONCLUSION. A 1:50 ratio of iohexol in saline or D5W provides an optimal combination of increased visibility on CT without streaking artifacts.