Improved Visualization and Identification of the Right Adrenal Vein in 70-kVp Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the utility of 70-kilovoltage-peak (kVp) contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for visualization and identification of the right adrenal vein (RAV) in comparison with that of conventional 120-kVp CECT. Methods This retrospective study included patients who underwent adrenal venous sampling with concurrent biphasic 120-kVp (120-kVp group, n = 43) or 70-kVp (70-kVp group, n = 47) CECT. Signal-to-noise ratios, contrast-to-noise ratios, longitudinal lengths, conspicuity scores, RAV detection rates, and size-specific dose estimates were compared between the 2 groups. Results In comparison with the 120-kVp group, the 70-kVp group had significantly higher signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios ( P < 0.001– P = 0.033), greater longitudinal lengths ( P < 0.001– P = 0.002), superior conspicuity scores for the RAV ( P < 0.001), higher RAV detection rates ( P = 0.015– P = 0.033), and lower size-specific dose estimates ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Seventy-kilovoltage-peak CECT has advantages over conventional 120-kVp CECT and is potentially useful for noninvasive assessment of the precise anatomy of the RAV.