Vascular: Aortic runoff, abdominal CTA

Abstract

With the introduction of multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) there has been an exponential increase in computed tomography (CT) angiography. Over the last decade MSCT angiography made up for invasive aortic angiography. Currently, diagnostic catheter angiograms of the visceral and peripheral arteries are gradually replaced by non-invasive imaging techniques such as MSCT. The high spatial resolution along the z-axis and, in particular, the tremendously improved image acquisition rate of MSCT fostered this development. Rapid scanning allows data acquisition during optimal opacification of the visceral as well as the peripheral vessels from a single intravenous injection of contrast material. Simultaneously efficient post-processing tools were introduced in clinical routine.1 The nearly ubiquitous availability of MSCT scanners, examination speed and the ease of use made MSCT angiography a routine tool that provides high quality vessel imaging during 24-h a day. © 2008 Springer Medizin Verlag Heidelberg.