Diagnostic accuracy of multi-detector CT angiography in evaluation of lower limb arterial diseases: Comparative study with conventional angiography

Abstract

There is an increasing prevalence of peripheral arterial disease, which affects approximately 12% of adults. Conventional angiography (CA) is still considered the reference standard in the assessment of aortoiliac and lower extremity arteries, with the advantage being that performance of therapeutic interventions is possible during the examination. Its main drawbacks, however, are invasiveness, high cost, patient discomfort, and a complication rate of approximately 1%. Non-invasive techniques for anatomic assessment of the peripheral arteries that could replace CA are therefore desirable; several alternative imaging techniques are available, including magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography angiography and duplex Ultrasonography. With the introduction of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) technology and the continuous development from 4-detector, 8-detector and 16-detector to 64-detector-row CT scanners, a complete coverage of the lower extremity inflow and runoff arteries was possible with one acquisition using a single-contrast bolus, the main advantage of this novel technology are the fast scan times ,high spatial resolution ,increased anatomic coverage and capability to regenerate high quality multiplaner and 3D renderings from raw data that can be reprocessed easily and quickly.