title: Arteriovenous fistula and graft evaluation in hemodialysis patients using MDCT: a primer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patent arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is related to better prognosis and quality of life for patients on long-term dialysis. When AVF dysfunction is suspected, MDCT is a good noninvasive tool for evaluating the entire AVF structure and determining reversible conditions for treatment. The aim of this article is to introduce the scanning and interpretation techniques and to illustrate the conditions related to early and late fistula failures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDCT is a fast, noninvasive, and accurate technique for diagnosing AVF complications. Radiologists familiar with these techniques can help to improve the prognosis and quality of life for hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, No. 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Rd., Taichung 407, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Lin
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Si-Wa
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Wan-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Pao-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Su Jing
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed