COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC VIRTUAL INTRAARTERIA L ENDOSCOPY AFTER INTRAVASCULAR STENT IMPLANTATION - PHANTOM STUDY AND CLINICAL-ASSESSMENT

Purpose: To evaluate the facilities of computed tomographic Virtual in traarterial endoscopy (VIE). Imaging of an intravascular stent in a ph antom study and clinical assessment in 10 patients. Methods: The optim al scan parameters for different 3 D reconstructions (MIP, SSD, VIE) w ere determined in a Vessel phantom with intravascular stent. Furthermo re, in vitro stenoses were analysed and initial in vivo investigations were performed. Results: The quality of CT-angiography (CTA) depended on the scanning parameters. VIE allowed the reconstruction of the int ravascular surface of a stent. Conclusion: VIE is a new kind of post-p rocessing CFA reconstruction. It permits the visualisation of the intr avascular structure of a stent. In vitro relevant stenoses were correc tly detected. First clinical investigations support these results.