Thoracic aorta cardiac-cycle related dynamic changes assessed with a 256-slice CT scanner.

Objective: The aim of our study was to demonstrate whether the dynamic changes previously documented at the ascending and abdominal aorta are replicated at the thoracic aorta.

Methods And Results: A consecutive series of thirty patients referred to our institution to undergo CT angiography of the thoracic aorta (CTA) constituted the study population. Patients with diffuse aortic atherosclerosis were excluded from the analysis.

Virtual hysterosalpingography: a new multidetector CT technique for evaluating the female reproductive system.

Recent advances in reproductive medicine have generated a demand for more accurate imaging methods for identifying the specific cause of female infertility and other gynecologic disorders. Virtual hysterosalpingography is an emerging modality in which aspects of the established technique of hysterosalpingography are combined with the cutting-edge technology of multidetector computed tomography (CT) to allow a comprehensive and highly accurate evaluation of both the female reproductive system and the pelvic anatomy generally. Unlike ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, multidetector CT is capable of depicting both the external and internal surfaces of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs, providing high-resolution data that are suitable for two- and three-dimensional reconstructions and virtual endoscopic views.

Virtual hysterosalpingography: experience with over 1000 consecutive patients.

With the advent of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), a whole new spectrum of diagnostic imaging techniques and procedures appears. Virtual hysterosalpingography (VHSG) is a novel non-invasive modality for assessing the uterus and female reproductive system that combines hysterosalpingography technique with MDCT technologies. Nowadays, 64-row VHSG offers an excellent diagnostic performance, in concordance with the development of new reproductive interventions and the need of accurate diagnostic procedures.

Accuracy of low-dose prospectively gated axial coronary CT angiography for the assessment of coronary artery stenosis in patients with stable heart rate.

Background: Desirable methods for cardiac CT angiography would both reduce radiation exposure from cardiac CT angiography and preserve accuracy.

Objectives: We assessed image quality, radiation dose, and diagnostic accuracy of a low-dose, prospectively gated axial cardiac CT angiography protocol for the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients referred for diagnostic invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and with a stable heart rate < 60 beats/min after beta-blocker administration were prospectively enrolled in a single center study.

Feasibility of 64-slice gadolinium-enhanced cardiac CT for the evaluation of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of gadolinium-enhanced 64-slice cardiac CT (CCT) for the diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease.

Design: Comparative prospective study.

Setting: Outpatient Imaging Diagnostic Centre, Diagnóstico Maipú, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Virtual colonoscopy in paediatric patients Usefulness of a colon dissection technique.

Objective: To determine the usefulness of perspective-filet view for polypoid lesions in paediatric patients in comparison with conventional virtual colonoscopy (VC) analysis and optical colonoscopy.

Methods: Sixty-one patients (mean age 5 years old) with a previous episode of rectal bleeding were studied using a 16 slices CT scanner. All patients underwent a colonic preparation.

Esophageal stenosis: three-dimensional multidetector CT and virtual endoscopy.

The improvement in spatial, temporal, and contrast resolutions with the newest multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) scanners opens the opportunity to explore other applications of the virtual endoscopy technique besides the colon and stomach evaluation. As a non-invasive technique, virtual esophagoscopy represents an alternative to conventional endoscopy for the assessment of esophageal stenosis. The procedure and diagnostic performance are reviewed.

Multidetector CT angiography and virtual angioscopy of the abdomen.

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has gained wide clinical acceptance as a powerful diagnostic tool in the non-invasive evaluation of vascular disorders and has became the method of choice for the assessment of aortic pathology. In addition, recent advances in computed tomography (CT) technology improve the image quality and diagnostic performance of the procedure in the abdominal vascular system. In this paper, we briefly review the CTA technique and describe the main applications of abdominal CTA.

Feasibility of gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid enhanced multidetector computed tomography for the evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Background: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) has been proposed as a noninvasive method for the diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). In patients with high risk of iodinated contrast adverse effects such as acute allergic-type reactions, the use of gadolinium could be an alternative.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the feasibility of gadolinium-enhanced MDCT for the diagnosis of obstructive CAD.

CT colonoscopy in inflammatory bowel disease.

Virtual colonoscopy is used worldwide for the detection of colon polyps, but this technique has not been used much for the evaluation of inflammatory bowel diseases. The advent of multidetector-computed tomography and the use of high quality 3D and virtual images opened up the opportunity to assess these patients with this non-invasive technique. Early and late colonic changes are illustrated.

Virtual hysteroscopy by multidetector computed tomography.

Currently accepted techniques that evaluate the uterus and female reproductive system in the infertility workup algorithm include hysterosonography, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography. Based on high speed multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) which can acquire high-quality volumetric data of the pelvic region in a single brief scan, MDCT virtual hysteroscopy is proposed as a developing, non-invasive alternative diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of uterine pathology and other gynecologic disorders. Findings of the technique are illustrated.

New approach to noninvasive coronary angiography by multidetector computed tomography: initial experience using gadolinium.

Objective: To investigate the gadolinium performance for 16-detector-row coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Methods: Ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. Ten patients with coronary artery disease underwent digital coronary angiography and gadolinium-enhanced CT coronary angiography (Gd-CTCA) within the same week.

[Liver evaluation with multidetector CT. Angiotomography, volume determination and virtual hepatectomy].

Aim: to show a new technique of presurgical liver tumor evaluation using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), determining the usefulness of an-giographic reconstructions, presurgical virtual hepatectomy and 3D liver volume determination, in correlation with surgery findings.

Methods: twenty patients with primary or secondary liver tumors were evaluated with MDCT and then operated on. Dual-phase CT was performed in all patients on a 4-row multidetector CT scanner (Mx8000; Philips Medical Systems) after mechanical injection of 120 ml of iodinated contrast medium.

Multidetector CT colonoscopy: evaluation of the perspective-filet view virtual colon dissection technique for the detection of elevated lesions.

Background: The purpose of our study was to determine the usefulness of a virtual computed tomography colon dissection visualization technique for the detection of polypoid lesions in comparison with conventional virtual colonoscopy analysis and optical colonoscopy.

Methods: Twenty-three patients were evaluated with optical colonoscopy and computed tomography colonoscopy using 16-row MDCT on the same day. CT images were analyzed by the colon dissection workup with unfolded haustra visualization and also using the conventional virtual colonoscopy technique (axial images and endoluminal views).

Characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques by multidetector computed tomography.

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) provides 3-dimensional noninvasive visualization of the coronary arterial tree. We compared MDCT with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for assessment of severity of coronary artery stenosis and composition of atherosclerotic plaques in 40 patients (32 men; mean age 52 years, range 33 to 86) with documented coronary artery disease. Cross-sectional images obtained at 10-mm increments were assessed for percent decrease in luminal area.

Low radiation dose multislice CT colonography in children: Experience after 100 studies.

The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity (S) and specificity (sp) of virtual colonoscopy in the detection of elevated lesions in children, and to compare these results with conventional colonoscopy. Between April 2000 and January 2003, 100 patients (mean: 6 years old) were evaluated with virtual colonoscopy and conventional colonoscopy. All patients presented rectal bleeding and both methods were performed the same day.

General utilities of multislice tomography in the cardiac field.

Objects: To show all cardiac evaluations multislice computed tomography (MSCT) can perform.

Methods: MSCTs were performed on an MSCT scanner (Mx8000; Philips Medical Systems) with enhanced contrast acquisition. The reconstructed images were sent to a workstation for multiplanar reconstruction, volume rendering, and 3-D reconstruction.