Two-dimensional aortographic coronary arteriography with above-K-edge monochromatic synchrotron radiation.
OBJECTIVE
The diagnostic potential of two-dimensional aortographic coronary arteriography with synchrotron radiation was examined in dogs.


METHODS
The experiment was performed at a wiggler beam line by using a silicon monocrystal, fluorescent plate, and avalanche-type camera. The x-ray energy was adjusted to just above the iodine K-edge to obtain the highest contrast. Quantitative densitometry was used to compare intravenous coronary arteriography with aortographic coronary arteriography.


RESULTS
Aortographic coronary arteriography clearly depicted the branches of the coronary arteries such as the left anterior descending coronary artery, circumferential coronary artery, and right coronary artery to sizes of less than 0.2 mm without major overlap of coronary arteries. Intravenous coronary arteriography depicted only the branches of the left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery with poor image quality. The ratio of contrast material dilution was about 2.4 to 3.4 in aortographic procedures, whereas in intravenous procedures it ranged widely from 7.7 to 15.6.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary investigations indicate that two-dimensional aortographic coronary arteriography with synchrotron radiation promises to be a minimally invasive and easily repeatable method of clearly imaging the coronary arteries.
Takeda
T
T
Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Taukuba, Ibaraid-ken, Japan.
Umetani
K
K
Doi
T
T
Echigo
J
J
Ueki
H
H
Ueda
K
K
Itai
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted