Radiology, Vol 197, 365-368, Copyright © 1995 by Radiological Society of North America
Hepatic contrast enhancement at CT: influence of intravenous glucagon in a canine model
DM Warshauer, JN Hiken, PL Molina, SL Hackney, DA Bellinger and JK Lee
Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7510, USA.
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of glucagon on the timing and degree of
hepatic enhancement at computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each of
11 dogs underwent injection of contrast material at two uniphasic rates
(0.5 mL/sec and 1.5 mL/sec) with without previous intravenous
administration of 0.5 mg of glucagon. Scans were obtained at a single
intrahepatic level every 3.5 seconds for 120-160 seconds. Attenuation
values in the liver, aorta, portal vein, and inferior vena cava (IVC) were
measured. RESULTS: Glucagon administration was associated with greater
hepatic enhancement throughout the study: Peak hepatic enhancement was
greater at contrast injection rates of 0.5 mL/sec (P = .021) and 1.5 mL/sec
(P = .0001). Peak hepatic enhancement also occurred earlier during the
glucagon runs. Portal vein enhancement was greater during the glucagon runs
at an injection rate of 1.5 mL/sec (P = .032). IVC enhancement was greater
during the nonglucagon runs at 0.5 mL/sec (P = .013) and at 1.5 mL/sec (P =
.005). CONCLUSION: Intravenous administration of glucagon before contrast
material injection produces greater and more rapid hepatic enhancement in a
canine model.
