Multidetector-row CT angiography in the study of atherosclerotic carotid arteries.
Pathologies of the carotid arteries, and in particular atherosclerosis, are now an important medical problem. Stroke is the third leading cause of severe disability in the Western World leading to millions of deaths every year. Extracranial carotid atherosclerotic disease is the major risk factor for stroke. In years, with the advent of multidetector-row CT (MDCT) scanners and the use of specific angiographic protocols (MDCTA), CT imaging of the carotid arteries has become increasingly effective. In addition, the volume data obtained can be further rendered to generate high-quality two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. The purpose of this study was to review the atherosclerotic carotid arteries, their complications and how MDCTA depicts them, underlining the benefits and pitfalls of this diagnostic technique.
Saba
Luca
L
Department of Radiology, Policlinico Universitario, s.s. 554 Monserrato, 09045 Cagliari, Italy. lucasaba@tiscali.it
Sanfilippo
Roberto
R
Pirisi
Raimondo
R
Pascalis
Luigi
L
Montisci
Roberto
R
Mallarini
Giorgio
G
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media