Use of multidetector row CT to evaluate the need for bronchial arterial embolization in hemoptysis patients.
BACKGROUND
Bronchial artery (BA) embolization (BAE) is recommended as a minimally invasive therapy for hemoptysis, though some patients recover after only conservative treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to assess the characteristics of BAs using multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) and identify BAs requiring BAE without BA angiography (BAG).


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 41 patients and classified the visualized BAs into groups based on their BAE and bleeding statuses. Patients presenting with massive hemoptysis requiring emergency BAE were excluded. Patients presenting with persistent hemoptysis that was resistant to conservative treatment received BAE. Radiologists measured BA diameters at the ostium, bronchial bifurcation and pulmonary hilum, and also evaluated the degree of vascularization.


RESULTS
MDCT enabled visualization of 102 ostia and 96 traceable BAs. Among the participating patients, 13 had at least one ectopic origin. We obtained a good correlation between BAG and MDCT diameters (r = 0.709, p < 0.001). The diameters of BAs responsible for bleeding and receiving BAE were apparently larger in each measured segment than those that were not (p < 0.05). Moreover, the diameters of arteries receiving BAE remained largely unchanged from the origin to the hilum and through the mediastinum. BAs with low MDCT scores were significantly less likely to required BAE than those with high scores (p = 0.004), and in multiple logistic regression analysis, ostium diameter and bleeding status were independent predictive factors for BAE.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of BAs on MDCT could be useful for identifying the anatomical characteristics of bleeding-related BAs and determining whether BAE is indicated or whether conservative treatment is sufficient.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Hidenori
H
Mori
Yasushi
Y
Ohno
Yusuke
Y
Tsuge
Masanori
M
Kawasaki
Fumitaka
F
Ito
Junki
J
Endo
Norihiko
N
Funaguchi
Bu Lin Bai
BL
La
Masayuki
M
Kanematsu
Shinya
S
Minatoguchi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001981:Bronchial Arteries; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome