This page is constantly being updated.

Send list of current protocols and questions/suggestions to aafari@gmail.com.

General Guidelines:

• First see the Guide for Techs here.
• Give oral contrast anytime they are interested in looking at the bowel (mouth to anus).  If you're not sure, then give oral contrast.  If they want to look at the colon and rectum.  It takes 3 hours to get there.
• If radiology reading services are performed offsite, you can contact the teleradiologist.

CT Abdomen - Liver Protocol

• INDICATION:  Liver lesion for further characterization
• CONTRAST:  100 cc Omnipaque @3 cc/sec
• EQUIPMENT:  GE Excite 16 channel
• CT Abdomen, 5mm, No IV
• CT Abdomen, 3mm, 30 sec, (Hepatic Arterial Phase)
• CT Abdomen, 3mm, 50 sec, (Portal Venous Phase)
• CT Abdomen, 5mm, 120 sec (Delayed) - Could use 240 sec if looking for hemangiomas

CT Abdomen (Pancreas Protocol)

• CT Abdomen, 5mm, Non-Contrast
• CT Abdomen, 3mm, 25 sec (Arterial Phase)

CT Abdomen (Urogram Protocol, Urinary Tract protocol)

• Precontrast AP
• Inject 20 cc, wait 5 min, Inject 80 cc then...
• Postcontrast AP at 50 secs

CT Chest W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series  5mm cuts   5mm intervals
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)    Recon 2   (Lung Algorithm) optional
• CT Chest W W/O

CT Chest - High Resolution

• Chest Scout AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts 5mm intervals
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)
• High Res Series- (Helical/Full/0.5 sec.)(1.25mm cuts/0.5mm intervals)
• Recon 1 (Soft Algorithm) Recon 2 (Lung Algorithm) Recon 3 (Bone Algorithm)

Scout  AP & Lat

• Non Con Series  5mm cuts   5mm intervals    Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• 100mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series  5mm cuts   5mm intervals     45 sec Scan delay
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)    Recon 2   (Lung Algorithm) optional

CT CHEST - HIGH RESOLUTION

• INDICATIONS:  Interstitial lung disease
• CT Chest, 5 mm, Normal Algorithm, Non-contrast
• CT Chest, 1.25mm, 10mm intervals, Lung Windows, Non-contrast

CT CAP (for PET)  - Whole Body

• Give PO Contrast
• PT whole body
• CT whole body, non-contrast for attenuation correction.  Only send this phase.  Don't send NAC images to PACS.
• CT CAP+, 100 cc, One phase at 45 sec, 5mm.  No non-contrast phase.

CT CAP (for PET) - WHOLE BODY (LIVER LESION, BrCA, GI CA)

• Give PO Contrast
• PT whole body
• CT whole body, non-contrast for attenuation correction.  Only send this phase.  Don't send NAC images to PACS.
• CT CAP+, 100 cc, One phase at 45 sec, 5mm.  No non-contrast phase.
• CT Abdomen, 120 sec, 5mm

CT Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis (C-/C+)

• Give Pt Oral Contrast Prior to study
• Scout Images
• CT CAP, 5mm, Non-contast
• 100 cc Omnipaque IV
• CT CAP, 5mm, 45 second delay
• CT AP, 5mm, 60 sec

CT Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring

• Please send me the study settings.
• Heart Rate should be lower than 80.  Otherwise, discuss Metoprolol or Atenolol with onsite physician.
• All measured calcifications can be save and pushed to Modality and PACS.
• Make sure that stratified scores are available when reading study.

CTA  (Lower Extremities)

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals Recon 1 (Std Algorithm)
• Post Con Series 1.25mmcuts 1.25mm intervals
• Use “Smart Prep Rx” Option to determine time of delay
• Place Smart Prep Localizer at the end of the Descending Aorta
• Recon 1 (Detail Algorithm)
• Note: Angio Studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CT Head W/O

• Scout   AP & Lat
• Non Con Series  3.75mm
• Recon 1  Std Algorithm

CT Head w w/o

• Scout   AP & Lat
• Non Con Series  3.75mm     Recon 1  Std Algorithm
• 80 mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con series   3.75mm  40 sec Scan delay
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm) optional

CT Knee:

• Coronal/Sag recons on AW workstation.

CT Lumbar Spine:

• Axis Perpendicular to L3/4
• Axial, Bone Algorithm, 2.0 mm
• Coronal Reformat, Bone Algorithm, 2mm
• Sagittal Reformat, Bone Algorighm, 2mm

CT Neck W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series  3.75mm
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)
• Note: All Spine studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CT Neck W W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series  3.75mm     Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)
• 80 mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series  2.5mm      35 sec Scan delay
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm) optional
  • (a Soft Tissue Algorithm can be used when performing a Soft Tissue Neck)
• Note: All Spine studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CT Shoulder W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 2.5mm
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm) optional
• Note: All Shoulder studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CTV (CT Venogram) of the Neck Soft Tissues (Without/With IV Contrast)

• Non-contrast Neck (3 mm)
• Post-contrast Neck (2.5 mm) @60 seconds

CT Brain W/O

• Scout   AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 3.75mm cuts  3.75mm intervals
• Recon 1  Std Algorithm

CT Brain w w/o

• Scout   AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 3.75mm cuts  3.75mm intervals Recon 1  Std Algorithm
• 80 mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con series 3.75mm cuts  3.75mm intervals 40 sec Scan delay
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm) optional

CT Sinuses/EAM/Facial Bones W/O

• Scout   AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 2.5mm cuts 2.5mm intervals
• DFOV   30.0cm
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm)

CT Neck W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 3.75mm cuts  3.75mm intervals
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)

CT Neck W W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 3.75mm cuts  3.75mm intervals Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)
• 80 mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series 2.5mm cuts 2.5mm intervals 35 sec Scan delay
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm) optional
  • (a Soft Tissue Algorithm can be used when performing a Soft Tissue Neck)
• Note: All Spine studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CT Shoulder W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 2.5mm cuts 2.5mm intervals
• Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)        Recon 2  (Bone Algorithm) optional
• Note: All Shoulder studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CT Chest W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)    Recon 2   (Lung Algorithm) optional

CT Chest W W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• 100mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals 45 sec Scan delay
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)    Recon 2   (Lung Algorithm) optional
• Note: Increasing scan delay time of 15 sec is required when the Flow rate is reduced, due to smaller catheters.

CT Chest (High Resolution)

• Scout  AP & Lat (Entire Chest)
• Non Con Series (Series 1) 5mm cuts 5mm intervals Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• Non Con Series (Series2) 1.25mm cuts 1.25mm intervals
• Recon 1 ( Std Algorithm)    Recon 2   (Lung Algorithm)
• Recon 3 (Bone Algorithm) optional

CT CAP W/O

• Scout  AP & Lat (From 1cm above apices to 5cm below symphsis)
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)

CT CAP W W/O

• 450mls (1 bottle) of RediCat Oral contrast given to Pt 1 hr prior to study
• Scout  AP & Lat (From 1cm above apices to 5cm below symphsis)
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• 100mls of Omnipaque  @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals
• Group 1 (Chest) 45sec scan delay   Group 2 (Abd/Pelvis)70sec scan delay
• Delay Kidney & Bladder (7 Min post injection) optional
• Note: Increasing scan delay time of 15 sec is required when the Flow rate is reduced, due to smaller catheters.

CT Abdomen (Liver Protocol)

• 450mls (1 bottle) of RediCat Oral contrast given to Pt 1 hr prior to study
• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 5mm cuts   5mm intervals Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• 100mls of Omnipaque  @3.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series Abdomen 2.5mm cuts  2.5mm intervals Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• Group 1(Hepatic Arterial Phase) 30sec scan delay
• Group 2(Portal Venous Phase) 50sec scan delay
• Group 3(Delay) 120sec scan delay  *Use 240sec if looking for Hemangioma

CT Urogram

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series    Recon 1 5mm cuts   5mm intervals (Std Algorithm)
• Inject 20mls Omnipaque IV 5min prior to exam
• Inject an additional 80mls @ 2.0 mls/sec
• Post Con Series Abdomen 2.5mm cuts  2.5mm intervals 50 sec scan Delay Recon 1  (Std Algorithm)
• Delay Kidney & Bladder  (7 Min post injection) 5mm cuts   5mm intervals
• Recon 1 (Std Algorithm)

CT T-Spine

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 2.5mm cuts 2.5mm intervals
• Recon 1 (Std Algorithm) Recon 2(Bone Algorithm)
• Note: All Spine studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation”
• for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

CT L-Spine

• Scout  AP & Lat
• Non Con Series 2.5mm cuts 2.5mm intervals
• Recon 1 (Std Algorithm) Recon 2(Bone Algorithm)
• Axis perpendicular to L-3/L-4
• Note: All Spine studies are to be sent to the ”AW-Workstation” for reformatting, and then sent to Ramsoft

Results will be read by a teleradiologist and forwarded to your doctor.

• protocols-ct
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