Virtual angioscopy using 3-dimensional rotational digital subtraction angiography for endovascular assessment.

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of 3-dimensional rotational digital subtraction angiography (3D DSA) and the creation of virtual angioscopic images from its data before and after endovascular treatment.

TECHNIQUE

Data sets from 3D DSA studies were used to create intraluminal images simulating angioscopy for 36 patients with arterial stenosis, aneurysm, or endoleak after stent-graft deployment. A biplanar DSA unit was used to acquire rotational angiography data, which was then processed with a surface-rendering technique to create maximum intensity projections, shaded surface displays, multiplanar reconstructions, and virtual angioscopy. 3D reconstructions were created in 2 minutes after angiography and provided realistic views adequate for vessel measurement, morphology assessment, and endoleak evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

3D DSA and virtual angioscopy are novel techniques that have been successful in recreating images of blood vessels immediately after angiography. These techniques could be useful as additional imaging modalities to complement computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of vascular diseases after endovascular therapy.