Nonvascular and portal vein applications of cone-beam computed tomography: current status

C-arm cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a relatively new imaging technology that uses a conical-shaped radiation beam and a 2-dimensional flat-panel detector to produce 3-dimensional volumetric datasets with excellent spatial resolution. Recently, this technology has been implemented in angiographic units across the country. This imaging modality is particularly useful when both images of "CT-like" quality and real-time fluoroscopic imaging are required for pretreatment planning and intraprocedural guidance. In this article, we describe the use of cone-beam CT technology in various nonvascular and portal venous interventions, including percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, percutaneous needle biopsy and ablation of pulmonary nodules and renal masses, gastrostomy tube insertion, hepatic radiofrequency ablation, and biliary interventions.