Cone-beam CT: an additional imaging tool in the interventional treatment and management of low-flow vascular...

To evaluate the impact of cone-beam computed tomography (CT) during sclerotherapy of low-flow vascular malformations.

Eighty-seven cone-beam CT examinations were acquired during 81 sclerotherapy treatments of low-flow malformations in 48 patients: 81 were performed to evaluate sclerosing agent diffusion and six were performed to evaluate needle or catheter positioning before injection of therapeutic agent. Image quality was rated by two observers. Clinical impact of cone-beam CT in the assessment of therapeutic agent diffusion, needle or catheter positioning, subsequent treatment planning, and complication detection was evaluated. The κ-statistic was used to assess interobserver reliability and proportions, with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

All cone-beam CT images were successfully acquired. Image quality was rated as excellent or good for the majority of studies, with substantial interobserver reliability (κ = 0.648). Cone-beam CT studies improved assessment of therapeutic agent diffusion in 83% of cases (67 of 81; 95% CI, 75%-91%) for observer 1, who had access to ultrasound, fluoroscopic, and digital subtraction angiographic (DSA) imaging, and in 95% of cases (77 of 81; 95% CI, 90%-100%) for observer 2, who had access to only stored fluoroscopic spot radiographs and DSA images. Cone-beam CT impacted planning of the next treatment session in 49% of cases (40 of 81; 95% CI, 38%-60%). In 7% of cases (six of 81; 95% CI, 1%-13%), complications such as migration of therapeutic agent or compression of upper airways were detected that were not seen with other imaging.

Cone-beam CT can be a useful adjunctive imaging tool, providing information to help decision-making during percutaneous sclerotherapy and ongoing management of low-flow vascular malformations.