2-DIMENSIONAL AORTOGRAPHIC CORONARY ARTERIOGRAPHY WITH ABOVE-K-EDGE MONOCHROMATIC SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION

Rationale and Objectives. The diagnostic potential of two-dimensional aortographic coronary arteriography with synchrotron radiation was exa mined in dogs. Methods. The experiment was performed at a wiggler beam line by using a silicon monocrystal, fluorescent plate, and avalanche -type camera. The xray energy was adjusted to just above the iodine K- edge to obtain the highest contrast. Quantitative densitometry was use d to compare intravenous coronary arteriography with aortographic coro nary arteriography. Results. Aortographic coronary arteriography clear ly depicted the branches of the coronary arteries such as the left ant erior descending coronary artery, circumferential coronary artery, and right coronary artery to sizes of less than 0.2 mm without major over lap of coronary arteries. Intravenous coronary arteriography depicted only the branches of the left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery with poor image quality. The ratio of contrast m aterial dilution was about 2.4 to 3.4 in aortographic procedures, wher eas in intravenous procedures it ranged widely from 7.7 to 15.6. Concl usion. These preliminary investigations indicate that two-dimensional aortographic coronary arteriography with synchrotron radiation promise s to be a minimally invasive and easily repeatable method of clearly i maging the coronary arteries.