Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography in diagnostic arteriography

Intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 133 diagnostic arteriographic procedures during a 10-month period. The increased contrast resolution of DSA permitted the use of a dilute (15%) contrast material. A significant reduction in contrast material dose compared with conventional film-screen arteriography and intravenous DSA was thus achieved. This was especially advantageous in patients with diminished renal function. The dilute contrast material also resulted in less patient discomfort. Subtracted images were available immediately on cathode ray tube display, resulting in faster procedures, and a considerable saving in film cost compared with conventional arteriography. It is concluded that intraarterial DSA is a useful technique that may replace conventional film-screen arteriography in many applications.     

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography in patients with Aorto-arteritis (Takayasu's)

Aorto-arteritis is one of the commonest vascular diseases in China as well as in Japan and other parts of Asia. The results of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 50 patients with aortoarteritis are reported, and the merits and demerits of intravenous (IV) DSA in the diagnosis of this entity are evaluated. Among the 51 studies performed on 50 patients, IV DSA was used in 48, intraarterial (IA) DSA in 3, and good-to-excellent visualization was obtained in 96% of patients. Aorto-arteritis of varying severity and involving the thoraco-abdominal aorta, the iliac arteries, and other major branches was clearly demonstrated by IV DSA. IV DSA, as compared to our previous experience with conventional arteriography in this entity, may be substituted for conventional arteriography in most patients. A large dose of contrast media needed for a complete study is a major deficiency of IV DSA, and it also has limitations for showing the intrarenal arterial branches.     

Digital subtraction angiography with an Isocon camera system: clinical applications

A new imaging system for digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was evaluated in 30 clinical studies. The image receptor is a 25 X 25 cm, 12 par gadolinium oxysulfate rare-earth screen whose light output is focused to a low-light-level Isocon camera. The video signal is digitized and processed by an image-array processor containing 31 512 X 512 memories 8 bits deep. In most patients, intraarterial DSA studies were done in conjunction with conventional arteriography. In these arterial studies, images adequate to make a specific diagnosis were obtained using half the radiation dose and half the amount of contrast material needed for conventional angiography. In eight intravenous studies performed either to identify renal artery stenosis or for evaluation of congenital heart anomalies, the images were diagnostic but objectionably noisy.     

Indications for intravenous and intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the diagnosis of cerebrovascular insufficiency. A new diagnostic concept including ultrasound

For screening of arteriosclerotic lesions of the carotid bifurcation duplex scanning (B-mode imaging plus doppler flow analysis) is the method of first choice, because it is really noninvasive and offers the same results as intravenous DSA (IV DSA). IV DSA should not be performed as a screening procedure unless ultrasound examinations are not available or are inadequate. Except for patients with isolated unilateral stenosis of the internal carotid artery near the bifurcation confirmed with both duplex scanning and IV DSA, arteriography is required for therapy planning. Aortic arch angiogram, selective extra- and intracranial carotid arteriography and--if necessary--vertebral and subclavian arteriography can be performed with intraarterial DSA (IA DSA). The application of DSA to catheter arteriography will help to reduce further the potential risk of adverse reactions related to high intravasal contrast doses specially in the cerebral circulation, but will not turn arteriography into a risk-free procedure. Postoperative examinations of the carotid bifurcation can be performed with ultrasound as well as with IV DSA. Extracranial bypasses are best demonstrated with IV DSA. Extraintracranial bypasses can be demonstrated only with IA DSA.     

Conventional angiography and digital subtraction angiography in arterial occlusive disease of the extracranial branches of cerebral arteries

In this paper the advantages and disadvantages of different arteriographic methods, i.e. conventional angiography, intraarterial DSA and intravenous DSA, are discussed for the purpose of examining the extracranial supraaortic branches. The analysis of individual vascular regions in arteriography of the aortic arch is assessed. In addiction, the value of i.v. DSA is demonstrated, comparing own results with data in the literature. Indications of the three different angiographic techniques are outlined.     

Peripheral vascular disease: prospective study of intraarterial digital subtraction angiography using a 9-inch intensifier

A prospective randomized study was undertaken to evaluate the role of intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in the study of peripheral vascular disease. Patients underwent either conventional film-based angiography alone, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) alone, or a combined study. With a 9-inch image intensifier, DSA alone resulted in cost savings of film and contrast material but required a significantly longer examination period than the other groups and an increased iodine dose per examination. When the images were analyzed by a radiologist and a vascular surgeon, the DSA studies provided less detail in the aortoiliac region than the other techniques but had advantages in demonstrating the runoff vessels. IADSA examination should not replace conventional arteriography in patients with peripheral vascular disease but has a useful complementary role.     

Digital subtraction angiography of the extremities using table translation

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the extremities has been performed with both intravenous and intraarterial injections of contrast material. Intravenous studies are usually site specific and are limited by contrast material load; a complete intraarterial study with multiple injections of contrast material may be time consuming. A feasibility study to evaluate a DSA technique that would allow table translation and imaging of two contiguous regions following a single injection of contrast material--bolus-chase DSA--was performed. Forty-five examinations were performed, 13 intravenously and 32 intraarterially. Twelve intravenous and 16 intraarterial DSA examinations were totally satisfactory. Inadequate studies were predominantly caused by slow arterial clearance of contrast material in the distal calf and by operator error. Compared with conventional DSA, anatomic studies of lower-extremity vessels could be obtained faster and with lower contrast material loads using bolus-chase DSA.     

Digital subtraction angiography in Takayasu arteritis

The usefulness and limitation of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in Takayasu arteritis were investigated in 32 patients. Intravenous DSA was particularly useful in the follow-up of patients with an established diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. Pulmonary arterial involvement could also be demonstrated with intravenous DSA as obstructive arterial changes and lack of accumulation of contrast medium in the pulmonary parenchyma. Detailed information concerning the site and extent of vascular involvement and development of collateral vessels were obtained with intraarterial DSA. Thickening of the thoracic aortic wall, however, could not be recognized with either intravenous or intraarterial DSA. Conventional angiography of the descending thoracic aortal is still required as an initial examination, particularly when there is no aortic arch involvement. However, there is no doubt that DSA has the potential to become the diagnostic procedure of choice in Takayasu arteritis.     

Digital celiac arteriography

Sixty patients underwent intraarterial DSA with injection into the celiac artery for evaluation of various hepatic, pancreatic, and splenic lesions. Twenty of these patients also underwent conventional arteriography for comparison. Excellent images during the early arterial phase (free of bone superimposition and artifacts) were obtained with DSA. The late arterial and parenchymal phases of the examination were less definitive when compared with conventional angiography. The venous phases of the liver studies were good and compared favorably in contrast and resolution to conventional methods. In the late venous phase, good images of the portal system were obtained using a small amount of contrast medium. Respiratory movements and artifacts were overcome with postprocessing. Most of the studies were performed using the 12-inch mode of the image intensifier, which represents the best choice between the size of the field examined and the spatial resolution of the system. We believe that DSA is a suitable substitute for conventional angiography in most patients in whom celiac trunk angiography would be used.     

Intracranial tumors examined by intraarterial DSA: a comparative angiography study

We compared intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) studies with those of conventional angiography, performed for 24 patients who had intracranial tumors. Intraarterial DSA is more effective in evaluating tumoral blush and venous phase, but neovascularization can be judged better by conventional angiography. In most cases, intraarterial DSA can replace conventional angiography for the diagnostic and preoperative evaluation of intracranial tumors. However, conventional angiography remains the technique of choice for the evaluation of neovascularization or if the patient is not cooperative.     

Radiation exposure of personnel during digital subtraction angiography

Radiation exposure to the lens of physicians performing intravenous and hand-injected intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were monitored with and without a combined face and body shield. Shielding provided nearly a three-fold reduction in dose for both intravenous and intraarterial exams, with the highest doses recorded for intraarterial exams due to longer fluoroscopy and exposure during imaging. When compared with the NCRP guidelines of maximum exposure to the lens, an angiographer could theoretically perform up to two intraarterial and 14 intravenous studies per day with protection or one intraarterial and two intravenous studies per day without protection. The exposure values in this study reflect our equipment and personal technique in carotid DSA and may not apply to other departments, but sould encourage other angiographers to monitor exposure in their own angiography suites.     

Digital intraarterial subtraction technique of the extracerebral vascular system

We report the results from intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA DSA) of the extracerebral vessels with aortic arch injection of contrast medium via femoro-arterial puncture, instead of the more widely used intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV DSA). Intraarterial DSA is performed using a lower contrast dose and rate, making this study less invasive and costly than the conventional arteriographic study of the aortic arch. Intraarterial DSA provides better resolution than IV DSA. The diagnostic accuracy is almost equivalent to conventional angiography and is largely superior to photographic subtraction angiography with intravenous injection of contrast media.     

Imaging of the digital arteries: digital subtraction angiography versus conventional arteriography

A retrospective study of 95 patients was undertaken to compare digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and conventional arteriography of the hand. Eighty patients had conventional angiography and 15 had DSA. In comparison with conventional angiography, DSA is more cost-efficient and facilitates outpatient angiography. It provides images as acceptable as those of conventional angiography. We conclude that intra-arterial DSA is now the procedure of choice for angiographic mapping of the digital arteries.     

Intraarterial digital subtraction arteriographic evaluation of extremity tumors: comparison with conventional arteriography

Conventional arteriography and intraarterial digital subtraction arteriography (IADSA) were compared in 36 patients with primary bone or soft-tissue tumors of the extremities. The sensitivity of IADSA was at least equal to conventional arteriography for demonstrating normal or abnormal major arteries and feeding arteries, equal to or superior for depicting tumor stains or draining veins, but slightly inferior for revealing minute tumor vessels. An increase of the matrix size from 256 X 256 to 512 X 512 improved these sensitivities. IADSA with 15% diatrizoate contrast material eliminated the contrast material-induced pain in all patients. With a computer-controlled iris setting, an average of 5 minutes of procedure time and 1.7 R of radiation (0.44 mC kg) per examination could be saved. IADSA reduced the cost of an examination by an average of $67. The results indicate that IADSA was diagnostic in all instances and can replace conventional arteriography for the evaluation of extremity tumors.     

The utility of digital subtraction arteriography in peripheral vascular disease

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), whether used in conjunction with intravenous or intraarterial injection techniques, has an established role in evaluation of peripheral vascular disease. Use of DSA can reduce the time, cost, and patient discomfort of the standard arteriographic study. While it is limited by field size and patient cooperation in some instances, the utility of noninvasive imaging using intravenous DSA and the added anatomic detail of intraarterial DSA for roadmapping and delineation of small distal vessels provide the basis for future integration of standard arteriographic and DSA methods in assessment of peripheral vascular disease.     

Cerebrovascular disease: outpatient evaluation with selective carotid DSA performed via a transbrachial approach

A total of 355 outpatients and 73 inpatients were studied for cerebrovascular disease with intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The studies were performed by means of selective carotid and vertebral artery catheterization from a transbrachial approach. Selective catheterization of the carotid artery was possible in 95% of patients, with definitive examinations of both extra- and intracranial circulation obtained in 95%-100% of all patients. Vessel opacification was very good to excellent, and the technique was inherently free from artifact caused by vessel overlap or involuntary motion. There were 25 complications, of which 20 were local in nature. Iodine load per case was extremely low, averaging 4.2-7.0 g. Selective carotid and vertebral catheterizations by the brachial route proved to be as safe as intravenous DSA and aortic arch intraarterial DSA with less contrast material load and superior images.     

Utility of DSA in the evaluation of haemodialysis access fistulas

Results of 39 intravenous and intraarterial DSA studies of haemodialysis access fistula are presented. Advantages of DSA versus conventional fistulography and xeroangiography are discussed. Digital subtraction angiography represents an accurate, time-saving and low complication approach to the evaluation of failing dialysis access fistulas.     

Hepatic neoplasms: detection with hepatoportal subtraction angiography--a new technique of DSA

A new technique for hepatic intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA)--hepatoportal subtraction angiography (HPSA)--that emphasizes the enhancement of tumors by suppressing liver parenchymal enhancement has been developed. The tumor detection sensitivity of HPSA was evaluated prospectively in comparison with that of conventional hepatic intraarterial DSA, unenhanced computed tomography (CT) or CT enhanced with iodine-containing contrast material (conventional CT), CT with iodized oil, and ultrasound (US). For 84 detected lesions of hepatoma, the sensitivity of HPSA was 92%, statistically superior to the 71% of hepatic intraarterial DSA (P less than .002), the 42% of US (P less than .001), and the 39% of conventional CT (P less than .001) and nearly the same as the 90% of CT with iodized oil. Among 33 lesions of metastasis, HPSA depicted 91%; conventional CT, 93%; US, 87%; and hepatic intraarterial DSA, 76%. HPSA was more sensitive than hepatic intraarterial DSA, but the difference was not statistically significant. Compared with hepatic intraarterial DSA, HPSA enabled detection of more faintly enhanced tumors, and this technique was considered useful for detecting small hypervascular hepatic tumors.     

动、静脉结合r-tPA溶栓治疗早期脑梗死

目的 评价动、静脉结合r-tPA溶栓治疗急性脑梗死的方法和临床疗效.方法 共15例急性脑梗死患者,术前均行CT、MR 和DSA检查证实颅内动脉闭塞部位：M1段4例,M2段2例,M3、4段2例,A1、2段1例,颈内动脉2例, P1段1例,豆纹动脉1例,其他穿支2例.其中术前经DSA证实12例.溶栓治疗时间在发病后3～7 h,采用动脉内药物灌注和机械疏通相结合方法溶栓,另外经静脉术前和术后持续滴注r-tPA辅助.术后观察临床症状和影像表现.结果 15例患者溶栓治疗中微导管和溶栓导管均到位满意,DSA所示闭塞段血管均有效再通.术后CT检查发现片状渗血2例,异位脑梗死1例.术后肢体功能即刻明显改善6例.临床观察3个月,症状基本完全恢复6例,较好改善7例,2例无明显改善;生活能力完全自理13例,有效率达87%（13/15）,生活能部分自理者1例,失去生活自理能力 1例,无患者死亡.结论 动、静脉结合溶栓治疗急性颅内动脉栓塞是一种有效、安全的治疗方法;局部动脉内灌注和机械疏通有效结合以及术前各项影像学检查的综合分析,将有利于动脉溶栓治疗的进行.     

Intravenous DSA examination of patients with suspected cerebral ischemia

We analyzed the role of intravenous digital subtraction angiography (DSA), with neck and intracranial views as a definitive pretherapy study, in patients who had symptomatic cerebral ischemia. Eighty-six patients, 25 of whom had subsequent carotid thromboendarterectomy, were examined. An adequate pretherapy intravenous DSA study allowed us to define each carotid bifurcation as either normal, having insignificant stenosis, or having significant stenosis, and the examination excluded significant tandem stenosis in the intracranial internal carotid arteries. Adequate pretherapy intravenous DSA studies were obtained in 73% of patients, including 50% of those in the presurgical group. Selective carotid arteriography was not required in these patients. Inadequate presurgical studies were predominantly due to plaque misregistration, inadequate projection, and superimposition that obscured the proximal internal carotid arteries. Selective carotid arteriography was performed in these patients prior to surgery. Inadequate studies prior to initiation of medical therapy were predominantly due to soft tissue misregistration artifact, and superimposition. Intravenous DSA is a valuable screening test and can be used to guide therapy in the majority of patients who have symptomatic cerebral ischemia.