Spiral CT angiography of the abdomen and pelvis: interventional applications

Spiral CT angiography may be a useful adjunct for interventional radiologists in imaging vessels within the abdomen and pelvis. Specifically, the potential to assess abdominal aortic aneurysms preoperatively is within the realm of spiral CT angiography so long as scanners can quickly change collimation and table feed during the examination. The technique is also useful for imaging metal and nonmetal vascular grafts. The splanchnic arteries may be imaged in instances in which proximal vascular patency and course is questioned. The portal vein and its branches may be imaged prospectively with spiral CT angiography or retrospectively by postprocessing routine abdominal CT image data. The normal renal vasculature including accessory vessels may be imaged as part of preoperative evaluation for renal transplantation or for repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Renal artery aneurysms may also be followed with spiral CT angiograms. Hemodynamically significant renal arterial stenoses may be detected with spiral CT angiography; grading the severity of those stenoses is within the realm of spiral CTA so long as careful attention is paid to technique.