Visceral arterial disease: imaging features and pattern-based evaluation on CT angiography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Vascular Imaging
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Abdominal visceral artery diseases present with nonspecific symptoms and high risks of morbidity and mortality.
• Prompt diagnosis is essential for effective management and improved patient outcomes.
• Imaging plays a critical role in the early detection and characterization of these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the essential role of imaging in diagnosing abdominal visceral artery diseases.
• To emphasize computed tomography angiography (CTA) as the preferred imaging modality.
• To present a pattern-based approach for CTA interpretation in visceral artery pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings in various abdominal visceral artery diseases.
• Discussion of CTA's high spatial and temporal resolution for vascular evaluation.
• Integration of imaging findings with clinical context for differential diagnosis.

Main Results:

• CTA enables detailed evaluation of the vascular lumen, arterial wall, and surrounding structures.
• A wide spectrum of pathologies, including stenosis, aneurysms, ischemia, and malformations, can be identified.
• A pattern-based approach aids in distinguishing entities with similar appearances but different therapeutic implications.

Conclusions:

• CTA is the imaging modality of choice for evaluating abdominal visceral artery diseases.
• Advances in CTA techniques enhance diagnostic accuracy and lesion characterization.
• CTA provides rapid, comprehensive, and noninvasive assessment, guiding appropriate patient management.