Identification of the anterior ethmoid arteries on thin-section axial images and coronal reformatted orbit images by means of multidetector row CT.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify anterior ethmoid arteries on thin-section axial images and coronal reformatted images of the orbits using multidetector row computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-two patients underwent paranasal CT using a 16-row detector CT (n=59) or a 6-row detector CT machine (n=73) at 1 or 1.25 mm section width, respectively. Coronal images were reformatted at section widths of 3 and 1 mm. The anterior ethmoid arteries were identified for each patient. Differences were assessed using the chi-square test.


RESULTS
All CT images were of approximately average diagnostic quality. Anterior ethmoid arteries were identified in 97.5 and 96.6% at section thicknesses of 1 and 1.25 mm on the axial images, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate (p=0.89). On the coronal images, anterior ethmoid arteries were presented tangentially in 75.4 and 90.2% at section widths of 3 and 1 mm, respectively. The visibility of the anterior ethmoid arteries was rated significantly better on coronal images at a section width of 1 mm than on those at section widths of 3 mm (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Thin-section axial images and coronal reformatted images using multi-detector row CT mostly depict anterior ethmoid arteries, and are useful to identify anterior ethmoid arteries for preoperative evaluation of paranasal sinuses.
Takahashi
N
N
Department of Radiology, Niigata City General Hospital, Shichikuyama, Niigata, Niigata, Japan. nandtr@hosp.niigata.niigata.jp
Ohkubo
M
M
Higuchi
T
T
Maeda
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*