Electron-beam CT angiography for thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection: application of continuous volume scan and electrocardiographically triggered scan.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnostic value of CT angiography of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection with electron-beam CT.


METHODS
Electron-beam CT angiography was used for the evaluation of thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 15), and aortic dissection (n = 15). Continuous volume scan (CVS), permitted by continuous X-ray exposure with table incrementation, was performed in all patients. An additional electrocardiographically triggered scan was obtained in four patients. Three-dimensional surface display and multiplanar reformations were obtained and compared with digital subtraction angiography.


RESULTS
Motion artifacts and the resulting degradation of three-dimensional image quality were frequent in the ascending aorta of CVS images. Electrocardiographically triggered sections improved the image quality of the ascending aorta. In the aortic arch and descending aorta, excellent three-dimensional images competitive in quality with digital subtraction angiography were obtained in all patients. For patients with aortic dissection, multiplanar reformation was useful to demonstrate the intimal flap and entry sites.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of electron-beam CT angiography is feasible for the diagnosis of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection.
Nakanishi
T
T
Department of Radiology, Hiroshima University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Fukuoka
H
H
Azuma
K
K
Ito
K
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D016477:Artifacts; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*