Comprehensive Abdominal CT Imaging Protocol

All patients underwent a routine preoperative abdominal CT scan performed on a GE Discovery 750 HD (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI) multidetector scanner. The parameters for CT imaging were as follows: tube voltage, 120–140 kV; tube current, 220–300 mAs; detector collimation, 0.625×64 mm; matrix, 512 × 512; slice thickness, 5 mm. All patients were injected with nonionic intravenous contrast agent, via the antecubital vein with mechanical power injector, according to their weight (1 mL/kg body weight, with a maximum of 150 mL). Phase and delay time were as follows: Phase 1, unenhanced; Phase 2, postcontrast corticomedullary phase (CMP): 25–28 s after contrast agent was administrated; Phase 3, postcontrast nephrographic phase (NP): 65–70 s after contrast agent was administrated; and Phase 4, postcontrast excretory phase [26 (link)].