Assessment of the arteriovenous cerebrovascular system by multi-slice CT -A single-bolus, monophasic protocol

Purpose: We present a protocol for the non-invasive angiographic assessment of the arterial and venous cerebrovascular (CV) system by multi-slice CT. Material and Methods: Data acquisition was performed in a multi-slice CT sc anner with a scan range from the carotid bifurcation to the vertex and manu al scan start following i.v. administration of 120 ml iodinated contrast me dium with a flow rate of 4 ml/s. This protocol was applied in 12 patients w ith symptoms of acute CV insuffiency. Results: In all patients, comprehensive imaging of the arteriovenous CV sys tem was achieved including the common carotid bifurcation, the third segmen t of the major cerebral arteries. the dural sinus and the internal cerebral veins. Various CV pathologies, such as a territorial artery occlusion, a t hrombotic obstruction of the internal carotid artery, an intracranial arter iovenous malformation and a sinus vein thrombosis, were successfully evalua ted. Conclusion: Comprehensive assessment of the arteriovenous CV system is poss ible by the use of a single-bolus. monophasic multi-slice scan technique.