TY - JOUR AV - public Y1 - 2023/12/12/ TI - Body weight-based iodinated contrast immersion timing for human fetal postmortem microfocus computed tomography UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjro/tzad006 ID - discovery10185743 IS - 1 N2 - Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the length of time required to achieve full iodination using potassium tri-iodide as a contrast agent, prior to human fetal postmortem microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging. Methods Prospective assessment of optimal contrast iodination was conducted across 157 human fetuses (postmortem weight range 2-298?g; gestational age range 12-37?weeks), following micro-CT imaging. Simple linear regression was conducted to analyse which fetal demographic factors could produce the most accurate estimate for optimal iodination time. Results Postmortem body weight (r2 = 0.6435) was better correlated with iodination time than gestational age (r2 = 0.1384), producing a line of best fit, y = [0.0304 × body weight (g)] ? 2.2103. This can be simplified for clinical use whereby immersion time (days) = [0.03 × body weight (g)] ? 2.2. Using this formula, for example, a 100-g fetus would take 5.2?days to reach optimal contrast enhancement. Conclusions The simplified equation can now be used to provide estimation times for fetal contrast preparation time prior to micro-CT imaging and can be used to manage service throughput and parental expectation for return of their fetus. Advances in knowledge A simple equation from empirical data can now be used to estimate preparation time for human fetal postmortem micro-CT imaging. VL - 6 N1 - This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PB - Oxford University Press (OUP) A1 - Simcock, Ian C A1 - Shelmerdine, Susan C A1 - Hutchinson, John Ciaran A1 - Sebire, Neil J A1 - Arthurs, Owen J JF - BJR|Open KW - Micro-CT KW - fetal KW - potassium tri-iodide KW - immersion time ER -