Spiral CT. Initial experience with vascular applications

Spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning is the latest technical advance in rapid scan techniques. In spiral CT, the patient is advanced at a constant rate through a continuously rotating CT gantry. The resulting CT data represent a true volume acquisition. Because of rapid scan acquisition, optimum vascular enhancement by intravenous or intraarterial contrast can be readily achieved. In addition, high quality multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions can be obtained because of lack of respiratory motion. Applications of spiral CT for vascular studies include evaluation of thoracic or abdominal aneurysms, vascular occlusion from thrombus or tumor, and vascular malformations. In this article, we present vascular applications of spiral CT through a series of illustrative cases.