Struffert Tobias, Doelken Marc, Adamek Edyta, Schwarz Marc, Engelhorn Tobias, Kloska Stephan, Ott Sabine, Doerfler Arnd
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Acta Radiol. 2010 May;51(4):431-7. doi: 10.3109/02841851003660073.
Despite limited soft tissue resolution flat-detector computed tomography (FD-CT) provides substantial superior spatial resolution in comparison with multislice computed tomography (MS-CT). This may add value in the visualization of small vascular structures if intravenous contrast application leads to substantial opacification and visibility of intracranial vessels or aneurysms.
To evaluate the feasibility of visualization of vascular structures by FD-CT angiography (FD-CTA) after intravenous contrast injection compared with MS-CTA and intra-arterial digital subtracted angiography (IADSA) in an animal model.
Aneurysms were created in the right common carotid artery in six New Zealand White Rabbits using the elastase technique. Imaging was performed using FD-CTA, MS-CTA (injection of 1 ml/kg body weight) and IADSA. Anonymized volume rendering reconstruction (VRT), maximum intensity projection (MIP), and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images were reconstructed and evaluated by two experienced reviewers for aneurysm geometry and vascular structure anatomy using standard tools of a dedicated workstation.
Aneurysms could be successfully created in all animals. Measurements of aneurysm geometry (aneurysm height, width, neck width) and vascular structures (brachiocephalic trunk, carotid artery diameter and plane) were nearly identical in all three modalities. Intra- and inter-observer correlations of the different parameters showed high r values between 0.83 and 0.99.
Our results show the feasibility of FD-CTA in comparison with MS-CTA and IADSA in an animal model. Despite limited soft tissue resolution, opacification of vascular structures with sufficient contrast to the surrounding structures was possible in all animals. Vascular structures appeared better delineated in FD-CTA than in MS-CTA, probably due to the superior spatial resolution.
尽管平板探测器计算机断层扫描（FD-CT）的软组织分辨率有限，但与多层螺旋计算机断层扫描（MS-CT）相比，其空间分辨率有显著提高。如果静脉注射造影剂能使颅内血管或动脉瘤充分显影，那么在显示小血管结构方面，这可能具有重要价值。
在动物模型中，评估静脉注射造影剂后，FD-CT血管造影（FD-CTA）与MS-CT血管造影（MS-CTA）及动脉数字减影血管造影（IADSA）相比，对血管结构进行可视化的可行性。
采用弹性蛋白酶技术，在6只新西兰白兔的右侧颈总动脉制造动脉瘤。使用FD-CTA、MS-CTA（按1 ml/kg体重注射）和IADSA进行成像。由两名经验丰富的阅片者使用专用工作站的标准工具，对匿名的容积再现重建（VRT）、最大密度投影（MIP）和多平面重建（MPR）图像进行重建，并评估动脉瘤的形态和血管结构解剖情况。
所有动物均成功制造出动脉瘤。在所有三种成像方式中，动脉瘤形态（动脉瘤高度、宽度、颈部宽度）和血管结构（头臂干、颈动脉直径和平面）的测量结果几乎相同。不同参数在观察者内和观察者间的相关性显示，r值在0.83至0.99之间，相关性较高。
我们的结果表明，在动物模型中，FD-CTA与MS-CTA和IADSA相比具有可行性。尽管软组织分辨率有限，但在所有动物中，血管结构与周围结构之间有足够的对比度，能够实现显影。FD-CTA中的血管结构比MS-CTA中显示得更清晰，这可能是由于其优越的空间分辨率。
