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Radiopacity of current endovascular stents: evaluation in a multiple reader phantom study
Jakub Wiskirchen1, Karin Kraemer, Claudius König
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Tübingen, Germany. jakub.wiskirchen@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology : JVIR
|August 7, 2004
Summary
Endovascular stent radiopacity varies significantly with fluoroscopy settings, with lower pulse rates making detection harder. Stent design, like radiopaque markers, greatly impacts visibility during imaging.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Endovascular Devices
- Radiology
Background:
- Endovascular stents are crucial in treating vascular diseases.
- Assessing stent visibility under fluoroscopy is vital for procedural success.
- Fluoroscopy mode significantly influences image quality and diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the radiopacity of various endovascular stents.
- To determine the impact of different fluoroscopy modes on stent visibility.
- To assess stent detectability within a human pelvic phantom.
Main Methods:
- Radiopacity of 14 different stent types was assessed in a pelvic phantom.
- Images were acquired using spotfilm, continuous fluoroscopy, and pulsed modes (15, 7.5, 3 pulses/sec).
- Four independent readers scored stent visibility on a scale of 0-4.
Main Results:
- The Cordis Covered Nitinol (Covent) stent demonstrated the highest overall radiopacity.
- Stent visibility decreased significantly with lower fluoroscopy pulse rates.
- Stents with radiopaque markers, like Luminexx, showed improved radiopacity compared to those without.
Conclusions:
- Fluoroscopy mode is a critical determinant of endovascular stent radiopacity.
- Increased stent mass and the presence of radiopaque markers enhance visibility.
- Optimizing fluoroscopy settings and stent design can improve intra-procedural stent visualization.