Initial experience with a chest pain protocol using 320-slice volume MDCT

We sought to determine the feasibility and image quality of 320-slice volume computed tomography (CT) angiography for the evaluation of patients with acute chest pain. Thirty consecutive patients (11 female, 19 male, mean age 63.2 +/- 14.2 years) with noncritical, acute chest pain underwent 320-slice CT using a protocol consisting of a nonspiral, nongated CT of the entire chest, followed by a nonspiral, electrocardiography-gated CT study of the heart. Data were acquired following a biphasic intravenous injection of 90 ml iodinated contrast agent. Vessel attenuation values of different thoracic vascular territories were recorded, and image quality scored on a five-point scale by two readers. Mean attenuation was 467 +/- 69 HU in the ascending aorta, 334 +/- 52 HU in the aortic arch, 455 +/- 71 HU in the descending aorta, 492 +/- 94 HU in the pulmonary trunk, and 416 +/- 63 HU and 436 +/- 62 HU in the right and left coronary artery, respectively. Radiation exposure estimates ranged between 7 and 14 mSv. The CT protocol investigated enabled imaging of the thoracic aorta, coronary and pulmonary arteries with an excellent diagnostic quality for chest pain triage in all patients. This result was achieved with less contrast material and reduced radiation exposure compared with previously investigated imaging protocols.