SPIRAL CT ANGIOGRAPHY AND 3D RECONSTRUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH AORTIC COARCTATION

The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of spiral CT angiography (CTA) and 3D reconstruction in patients with aortic coarc tation (CoA). Eighteen patients with suspected or surgically proven co arctation were examined by spiral CT. In addition to the axial slices, 3D reconstructions, such as shaded surface display (SSD) and maximum intensity projection (MIP), were used to determine the diameters of th e CoA and the pre-and poststenotic aorta and to visualise the collater al vessels. Diameters derived from cardiac catheterization were compar ed With those from CTA in 8 patients. The degree of aortic stenosis wa s correlated with blood pressure gradients (BPG) in 12 patients. Tile difference between the diameters of the CoA and the pre-and poststenot ic aorta derived from MIP and angiography was not statistically signif icant (p = 0.69). With SSD the internal thoracic artery was detected i n 16 and the posterior intercostal artery in 13 cases. The degree of a ortic stenosis correlated poorly with the BPG (r = 0.51, r(2) = 0.26). CTA with 3D reconstruction rep.:resents a reliable noninvasive techni que for the assessment of the degree of CoA and the visualisation of c ollateral vessels. It may serve as a follow-up investigation after int ervention or surgical treatment.