Quantitative hemodynamic assessment of stenotic below-the-knee arteries using spatio-temporal bolus tracking on 4D-CT angiography.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a chronic occlusive disease that restricts blood flow in the lower limbs, causing partial or complete blockages of the blood flow. While digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has traditionally been the preferred method for assessing blood flow in the lower limbs, advancements in wide beam Computed Tomography (CT), allowing successive acquisition at high frame rate, might enable hemodynamic measurements.

Purpose: To quantify the arterial blood flow in stenotic below-the-knee (BTK) arteries.

Improving the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease in below-the-knee arteries by adding time-resolved CT scan series to conventional run-off CT angiography. First experience with a 256-slice CT scanner.

Purpose: Run-off Computed Tomography Angiography (run-off CTA) of the lower extremities has become the method of choice for the diagnostic imaging of patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, it remains a challenging radiological examination with a considerable risk of non-diagnostic image quality for the assessment of below-the-knee arteries. In this study, we investigate the diagnostic benefit of adding time-resolved CT scan series to the standard run-off CTA by performing repeated axial acquisitions over the calves of the patient during a second bolus of iodinated contrast injection.