CT angiography of the pelvic arteries

A comparison was performed between CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on 55 patients with atherosclerotic obstructions of the pelvic arteries. Two post-processing algorithms were employed, maximum intensity projection (MIP) and 3D technique.

(a) MIP: conformity with DSA: 20/23 occlusions and 24/36 stenoses; underestimation: three occlusions, seven stenoses; overestimation: five stenoses. (b) 3D display: conformity with DSA: 19/23 occlusions and 16/36 stenoses; underestimation: four occlusions, 17 stenoses; overestimation: three stenoses. The MIP technique proved to be the only method to display the localisation of vascular calcifications with their exact topographical relationship to the stenoses and occlusions. MIP also proved to be valuable in controlling the position of intravascular stents. Complementary to DSA, the MIP method therefore seems to be a clinically valuable technique for calcified and non-calcified stenoses, and for displaying intravascular stents. Its use in interventional procedures could therefore become increasingly important.