title: Evaluation of lower-limb arteries with multidetector computed tomography angiography prior to free flap surgery: a radioanatomic study.
abstract: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the vascular structures of the lower limb with multidetector computed tomography (CT) angiography and to reveal the importance of this method in preoperative planning of microsurgical transplantation. In 24 patients, lower-limb arteries were bilaterally evaluated with 16-detector spiral CT scanner in terms of patency, stenosis, or occlusion; maximal and minimal external diameters through their traces; and variations as well as length of the peroneal artery. The peroneal artery was absent unilaterally in two patients (4.3%). The mean maximal and minimal diameters were as 2.77 and 1.63, 2.92 and 1.75, and 2.72 and 1.50 mm for anterior and posterior tibial and peroneal arteries, respectively. The ranges of lengths of peroneal arteries were 50 to 117 mm. This valuable tool can provide detailed information about vascular and the remaining anatomic structures by means of its high-resolution characteristics before planning free flap surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. drondertan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Onder
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yuce
authors.forename: Mecit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kantarci
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Algan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult