Identification of the segmental artery feeding the anterior spinal artery: correlation between helical CT and angiography.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether identification of the segmental artery feeding the anterior spinal artery (ASA) is possible by single-slice helical CT.


METHODS
Enhanced CT and angiography were performed in 14 patients with retroperitoneal, liver, or bone tumor. A single-slice helical CT scanner with 7 mm collimation and a 1.0 helical pitch was used. Scanning was started 25 to 30 sec after an intravenous injection of 100 ml of contrast medium at a rate of 3.0 ml/sec.


RESULTS
We predicted the segmental artery feeding the ASA in all 14 patients using enhanced CT images. In 12 of the 14 patients, the segmental artery feeding the ASA was angiographically identified. In 7 of these 12 patients, the level of the segmental artery feeding the ASA identified on segmental arteriogram was the same level as that predicted by enhanced CT. In the remaining 5 patients, the level of the segmental artery feeding the ASA identified on segmental arteriogram was one level higher or lower than the predicted spinal level.


CONCLUSIONS
We could identify the segmental artery feeding the ASA by detailed examination and interpretation of single-slice helical CT images.
Nishimura
Jun-Ichi
J
Department of Radiology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Lee
Jin
J
Koike
Shigeomi
S
Kurihara
Hiroaki
H
Ozawa
Yukihiko
Y
Abe
Aya
A
Shizukuishi
Kazuya
K
Niwa
Tetsu
T
Matsubara
Sho
S
Inoue
Tomio
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media