Contrast-enhanced ultrasound versus color duplex ultrasound imaging in the follow-up of patients after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Purpose: This study assessed the negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (CEUS) in the detection of endoleaks in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who underwent endovascular repair (EVAR) compared with unenhanced ultrasound imaging. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was the gold standard. The secondary objective was to define the optimal dose of the second-generation contrast agent to routinely use in the CEUS examinations for endoleak detection.

Four-detector row computed tomographic angiography in the evaluation of infrarenal aorta and peripheral arterial occlusive disease: influence of contrast medium concentration.

Purpose: To prospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy and quality of vascular enhancement of 2 contrast agents with different iodine concentrations in 4-detector row computed tomographic angiography of abdominal aorta and lower-extremity arteries.

Materials And Methods: Forty consecutive patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease referred for conventional angiography (digital subtraction angiography [DSA]) of the lower extremity were prospectively enrolled in the study and underwent multidetector row computed tomographic angiography (CTA) receiving either 90 mL of iomeprol 400 (Iomeron 400, group A; Bracco Imaging S.p.

Multidetector-row CT angiographic imaging of the celiac trunk: anatomy and normal variants.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of MDCT reformations in describing the celiac trunk vascular anatomy and variations.

Materials And Methods: A total of 555 MDCT angiographies of the abdominal aorta performed between January 2002 and July 2005 were retrospectively reviewed to assess the celiac trunk vascular anatomy and variations. All the patients with pathological condition likely to affect normal vascular anatomy as well as CT exams technically inadequate were excluded from our study.