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Cardiac CT Imaging pp 207–222Cite as

Aortic, Renal, and Carotid CT Angiography

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Abstract

Until recently, computed tomography (CT) did not allow for submillimeter imaging and was plagued by artifacts related to thick slab imaging (partial voluming and blooming). These artifacts impair image quality and promote venous contamination (the larger vein obscuring visualization of the smaller artery). Now, volumetric datasets can be acquired with very thin slices (anywhere from 0.5 to 0.625 mm per image) that allow visualization of smaller structures with less partial volume averaging in the z-axis as well as superior 3D and/or multiplanar imaging. Newer multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanners have near isotropic voxels (similar z-axis to x-axis and y-axis imaging resolution), which results in improved multiplane reconstructions with higher resolution. During the past decade, we have been witness to a tremendous development in the field of CT imaging. The interest in cardiac has largely overshadowed the vascular uses of CTA, however improvements in scan time and image quality has assisted vascular imaging as well. Currently, CTA of the vascular beds has largely replaced diagnostic angiography in many institutions. Imaging non-cardiac vascular beds are easier, as there is no collimation or stair-step (misregistration) artifacts, due to no need for ECG gating. Furthermore, these vascular beds do not suffer from motion artifacts and target vessels are mostly large diameter, so imaging with CT is ideal. CTA is less expensive, less invasive, and allows simultaneous visualization of large anatomic areas from multiple angles using 3D reconstructions. Studies demonstrate this is the most cost-effective mechanism to work up patients with vascular disease, and has distinct advantages over vascular ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging related to image quality and diagnostic accuracy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Torrance, CA, USA

    Matthew J. Budoff MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCCT

  2. Department of Cardiology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA

    Mohit Gupta MD

Authors
  1. Matthew J. Budoff MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCCT
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  2. Mohit Gupta MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthew J. Budoff MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCCT .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Los Angeles Biomedical Res. Institute, Dept. Cardiology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, W. Carson St. 1124, Torrance, 90502, USA

    Matthew J. Budoff

  2. Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, San Pablo St. 1510, Los Angeles, 90033, USA

    Jerold S. Shinbane

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Budoff, M.J., Gupta, M. (2010). Aortic, Renal, and Carotid CT Angiography. In: Budoff, M., Shinbane, J. (eds) Cardiac CT Imaging. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-650-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-650-2_17

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