MDCT of renal and mesenteric vessels

Abstract

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) with multiple detector-row CT (MDCT) has evolved into an established technique for non-invasive imaging of renal and mesenteric vessels. With adequate selection of acquisition parameters (thin collimation) high spatial-resolution volumetric data sets for subsequent 2D and 3D reformation can be acquired. Contrast medium (CM) injection parameters need to be adjusted to the acquisition speed of the scanners. Whereas fast acquisitions allow a reduction of total CM volume in the setting of CTA, this is not the case when CTA is combined with a second-phase abdominal MDCT acquisition for parenchymal (e.g., hepatic) imaging. Renal CTA is an accurate and reliable test for visualizing vascular anatomy and renal artery stenosis, and therefore a viable alternative to MRA in the assessment of patients with renovascular hypertension and in potential living related renal donors. CTA, combined with abdominal/parenchymal MDCT is a first-line diagnostic test in patients with suspected abdominal vascular emergencies, such as acute mesenteric ischemia, and an excellent tool to assess a wide variety of vascular abnormalities of the abdominal viscera.