[Which investigations should be selected for the preoperative assessment before the decision for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm by endoprosthesis: arteriography, tomodensitometry or magnetic resonance imaging?].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the best imaging technique to obtain all the necessary information before the placement of an aortic endoprosthesis.


METHODS
Each technique is assessed from a review of the literature and the AA's own experience (21 endoprostheses); the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed.


RESULTS
1) Arteriography (with a calibrated catheter), always considered at the investigation of choice to determine the feasibility of the technique, gives no information on the aortic wall; 2) spiral CT scanning is superior to basic scanning in giving a 3-dimensional picture. Many authors have concluded that spiral CT-scanning has replaced aortography, but its limitation, at the moment, is in the quality of the assessment of the renal arteries (number, stenosis); 3) magnetic resonance imaging has not been studied to any extent in terms of assessment for endoprosthetic treatment. Early results are promising and will be described.


CONCLUSIONS
At the present time, the best compromise is spiral-CT scanning in thin sections with 3-dimensional reconstruction. The AA combine this with arteriography to visualise the renal arteries in particular, and the distal bed.
Kobeiter
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Service de Radiologie et d'Imagerie Médicale, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil.
D000792:Angiography; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002138:Calibration; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed