Unsuspected mesenteric arterial abnormality: comparison of MDCT axial sections to interactive 3D rendering

The purpose of our study was to determine how frequently significant mesenteric arterial abnormalities that were identified by interactive 3D CT with volume rendering and maximum intensity projection were detected by axial images alone in a series of patients for whom there was no clinical suspicion of mesenteric vascular disease. Axial CT and 3D interpretations were compared for lesions involving the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries or their branches. On a per-patient basis, the axial and 3D interpretations were equivalent in 24% (10/41) of the cases. Axial CT partially agreed with 3D CT in 10% (4/41), and no mesenteric arterial lesion was reported on axial CT in 66% (27/41). The 3D CT findings were supported by other imaging, surgery, clinical findings, or management in 49% (20/41) of the cases. The mesenteric lesions identified resulted in a change in patient management in 15% (6/41) of the subjects.

Unsuspected mesenteric arterial abnormality may elude diagnosis when axial MDCT sections are interpreted without 3D renderings.