title: Angioarchitecture of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: clinical utility of three-dimensional helical CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical utility of three-dimensional (3D) helical computed tomography (CT) in pretherapy evaluation of the angioarchitecture of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven PAVMs were prospectively evaluated with both helical CT and pulmonary angiography. Single-threshold shaded-surface displays were obtained with 2- or 5-mm section thickness, a pitch of 1, and a 360 degrees linear interpolation algorithm but without injection of contrast medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A reliable analysis of the angioarchitecture of 28 PAVMs (76%)--25 simple and three complex--was provided by 3D reconstructions; combined interpretation of 3D images and transverse sections led to accurate evaluation of 35 PAVMs (95%). Positioning of the target anatomy in the reconstructed volume, threshold value, number of stacked sections, and section thickness influenced the diagnostic information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unenhanced 3D helical CT appears to be a reliable noninvasive tool for pretherapy evaluation of PAVMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôpital Calmette, Lille, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remy-Jardin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wattinne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods