Relative value of sliding-thin-slab multiplanar reformations and sliding-thin-slab maximum intensity projections as reformatting techniques in multisection CT angiography of the cervicocranial vessels.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To investigate image quality and vascular delineation of multisection CT (MSCT) angiography of the cervicocranial vessels with sliding-thin-slab (STS) maximum intensity projections (MIP) and multiplanar reformations (MPR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten patients examined with a standardized protocol on a 16-section MSCT were included in the study. The data were reformatted as MIP and MPR in 3 planes for each subject; both reformatting techniques were applied in an STS technique with an increment of 3 mm. Images were evaluated independently by 3 blinded readers grading image quality parameters and vascular delineation of supra-aortic arteries and veins. An extension of the Mantel-Haenzel row mean score test was used to compare the distribution of scores for vascular delineation and image quality between STS MIP and STS MPR.

RESULTS

STS MIP reformations were significantly superior to STS MPR in the delineation of all extra- and intracranial arteries and arterial segments and in the delineation of the cavernous sinus and the internal cerebral veins (P < .05). No significant differences were found for the large venous vessels, the visual assessment of vascular contrast, or the impact of imaging artifacts.

CONCLUSION

Because STS MIP reformations were preferred to or equal to STS MPR in all aspects, we recommend STS MIP as the primary reformatting technique in MSCT angiography of the cervicocranial vessels in addition to viewing the source images.