Neuroradiological applications of spiral CT

Spiral CT is a recent technique in which a patient is scanned while being drawn through the CT gantry, resulting in the generation of a continuous volume of cross-sectional data. Vascular structures can be imaged selectively given an appropriate delay after injection of intravenous contrast, and the images can be reconstructed in all planes. This technique provides an accurate method for the noninvasive evaluation of the carotid arteries and intracranial vasculature. This article discusses the utility of this technique in the determination of carotid stenosis and intracranial aneurysms.