Multidetector row computed tomography of the aorta and peripheral arteries

Abstract

MDCT represents a significant advance on SDCT and the advantages it brings are particularly clear in CTA applications. It allows cost effective assessment of longer segments of vascular territories to be imaged with higher spatial, contrast, and temporal resolution. It has replaced SDCT as the new CT standard and its technical abilities are rapidly approaching the temporal resolution of EBCT. With 3-D post processing tools its main benefit is in imaging studies customized to the patient's pathology, with greater measurement accuracy and reliable longitudinal assessment. MDCTA is increasingly applied not to individual vascular territories but to a complete assessment dictated by the pathology, such as the entire aorta and branch vessels in aneurysm evaluation and the aorta and the coronary arteries in dissection cases or the vascular and non-vascular chest in acute chest pain. Greater accuracy of vessel assessment will lead to a refinement of interventional and surgical techniques for an individual patient and facilitates conservative management of conditions that can be reliably monitored non-invasively and the development of intervention criteria. MDCTA will continue to increase its major role in peripheral vascular evaluation in the future though its reliability in assessing small vessels below the knee and in the foot remains to be conclusively proven to obviate the need for diagnostic catheter angiography.