Prospective assessment of carotid bifurcation disease with spiral CT angiography in surface shaded display (SSD)-technique.
OBJECTIVE
To decide, whether spiral CT-angiography (CTA) in surface display (SSD)-technique is suitable for accurate quantification of carotid artery stenoses.


METHODS
Forty-four patients (25 male, 19 females) with a total of 80 symptomatic carotid artery were studied prospectively with selective cerebral angiography and spiral CTA in SSD-technique. The degree of stenosis was determined according to the NASCET-study.


RESULTS
Assessment of the degree of stenoses with CTA and angiography was the same in 36% of mild stenoses, in 64% of moderate stenoses, in 68% of severe stenoses, and in 95% of the occluded internal carotid arteries. Overall, CTA in SSD-technique showed equivalent results as selective cerebral angiography in 65% of all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiral CTA in SSD-technique is inferior to selective cerebral angiography. Calcified plaques, vessel opacification and thresholding influence the most grading of stenosis.
Link
J
J
Department of Radiology, University of Kiel, Germany.
Mueller-Huelsbeck
S
S
Brossmann
J
J
Grabener
M
M
Stock
U
U
Heller
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003626:Data Display; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*