Multislice CT virtual angioscopy of the abdomen

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Computed tomographic (CT) angiography is crucial for diagnosing vascular disorders.
• Virtual angioscopy can be reconstructed from volumetric CT data.
• This study assesses the feasibility and clinical value of virtual angioscopy for abdominal vessels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical utility of virtual angioscopy in assessing abdominal vasculature.
• To compare virtual angioscopy with conventional CT imaging methods.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of CT angiographic datasets from helical (n=120) and multislice (n=180) scanners.
• Postprocessing on a workstation for vascular evaluation.
• Comparison of axial images, 3D reconstructions, and virtual angioscopic images.

Main Results:

• 123 studies in patients without aortic disease were analyzed.
• In stent-graft evaluations (n=90), 63 showed normal patency, 7 partial thrombosis, 5 total occlusion, and 10 leaks.
• 63 vascular aneurysms and 9 dissections were diagnosed in 92 remaining CT studies.

Conclusions:

• Current technology yields high-quality virtual angioscopic images.
• While axial and multiplanar views are adequate, virtual angioscopy offers superior definition of anatomic details.
• Virtual angioscopy is a valuable tool for evaluating abdominal vascular disorders.