title: A multidetector tomography protocol for follow-up of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to improve the use of 64-channel multidetector computed tomography using lower doses of ionizing radiation during follow-up procedures in a series of patients with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients receiving 5 to 29 months of follow-up after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair were analyzed using a 64-channel multidetector computed tomography device by an exam that included pre-and postcontrast with both arterial and venous phases. Leak presence and type were classified based on the exam phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endoleaks were identified in 8/30 of cases; the endoleaks in 3/8 of these cases were not visible in the arterial phases of the exams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors conclude that multidetector computed tomography with pre-contrast and venous phases should be a part of the ongoing follow-up of patients undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. The arterial phase can be excluded when the aneurism is stable or regresses. These findings permit a lower radiation dose without jeopardizing the correct diagnosis of an endoleak.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. robertomb@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Roberto Moraes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Razuk Filho
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blasbalg
authors.forename: Roberto Augusto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Caffaro
authors.forename: Walter Khegan
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Karakhanian
authors.forename: Antonio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media