Assessment of the cerebellar arteries with multidetector computed tomography angiography benefits from submillimeter slice thickness

Effect of Right-Sided Versus Left-Sided Contrast Injection on Intra-arterial Opacification Characteristics of Head and Neck Computed Tomography Angiograms and Interactions With Patient Sex, Weight, and Cardiac Output

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to support the standard clinical assumption that preferential right-sided injection (RSI) over left-sided injection (LSI) results in improved head and neck computed tomography angiograms and to determine which patients most benefit from RSIs.

METHODS

Head and neck computed tomography angiograms of 453 RSIs and 419 LSIs were included. Interactions between injection side, age, weight, body mass index, and left ventricular ejection fraction with mean vessel Hounsfield units (HU) were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using 2-tailed Student t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and simple linear (SL) and multiple linear regressions.

RESULTS

Right-sided injection yielded higher HU for patients older than 40 years (eg, RSI of the right common carotid artery [RCCA] vs LSI of the RCCA; P < 0.01). Body mass index (eg, RCCA; r = -0.31, P < 0.01 [SL]) and weight (eg, RCCA; r = -0.39, P < 0.01 [SL]) were negatively correlated with HU. Female had higher HU (mean ± SE, +39.7 ± 7.6 HU; P < 0.01 [multiple linear]). Left ventricular ejection fraction had no interactions with injection side or HU.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings support preferential RSI in patients older than 40 years with higher body mass index and weight, particularly male.

New hybrid reformations of peripheral CT angiography: do we still need axial images?

PURPOSE

To quantify the detectability of peripheral artery stenosis on hybrid CT angiography (CTA) reformations.

METHODS

Hybrid reformations were developed by combining multipath curved planar reformations (mpCPR) and maximum intensity projections (MIP). Fifty peripheral CTAs were evaluated twice: either with MIP, mpCPR and axial images or with hybrid reformations only. Digital subtraction angiography served as gold standard.

RESULTS

Using hybrid reformations, two independent readers detected 88.0% and 81.3% of significant stenosis, respectively. However, CTA including axial images detected statistically significant more lesions (98%).

CONCLUSION

Peripheral CTA reading including axial images is still recommended. Further improvement of these hybrid reformations is necessary.

Endovascular treatment for large and giant fusiform aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar arteries

Fusiform aneurysms of vertebrobasilar arteries pose great challenge to surgical and endovascular treatment, especially large and giant aneurysms. We retrospectively reviewed our experiences and results of endovascular treatments for a series of 10 consecutive patients with large and giant fusiform aneurysms. Eight patients underwent stents placement (5 patients) or stent-assisted coiling (3 patients), and 2 patients underwent proximal occlusion of the parent arteries. Retreatment was needed in 2 patients. With the exception of 1 patient who died of rebleeding after sole stenting, the remaining 9 patients had good outcome. Reconstructive strategies using stents is a useful alternative for large and giant fusiform aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar arteries.