4D-CT angiography differentiating arteriovenous fistula subtypes

Objective and methods

In the diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of a dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF), imaging has a key role in order to diagnose the dAVF, assess its bleeding risk and choose optimal treatment strategy. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for the most detailed image of a dAVF. Nowadays four-dimensional CT angiography (4D-CTA) could possibly be an additional first-line tool in the work-up of a patient suspected of a dAVF. We describe three cases clinically suspected of a dAVF which had a diagnostic work-up with 4D-CTA as well as DSA. We evaluated the angioarchitecture of the dAVF both on 4D-CTA and DSA, with emphasis on the patterns of venous drainage as this is important in assessing the bleeding risk of a dAVF.

Results and conclusion

4D-CTA identified the dAVF, revealed its angioarchitecture and correctly differentiated different patterns of venous drainage (Borden type I, II and III) as confirmed on DSA. Although DSA has the advantage of higher spatial and temporal resolution, 4D-CTA seems to be a new useful non-invasive tool in the diagnostic work-up of a patient suspected of a dAVF.     

Use of cardiac CT amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: North American perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected patient care deliver throughout the world, resulting in a greater emphasis on efficiently and safety. In this article, we discuss the experiences of several North American centers in utilizing cardiac CT during the pandemic. We also provide a case-based overview which highlights the advantages of cardiac CT in evaluating the following scenarios: (1) patients with possible myocardial injury versus myocardial infarction; (2) patients with acute chest pain; (3) patients with stable chest pain; (4) patients with possible intracardiac thrombus; (5) patients with valvular heart disease. For each scenario, we also provide an overview of various societies recommendations which have highlighted the use of cardiac CT during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that the advantages of cardiac CT that have been realized during the pandemic can help promote wider adoption of this technique and improved coverage and payment by payors.     

Contrast circulation in adult fontan patients using MR Time Resolved Angiography: Application for CT pulmonary angiography

BackgroundWhen patients with Fontan circulation require a computed tomographic pulmonary angiogram (CTPA), there are significant challenges in achieving adequate contrast opacification due to the altered anatomical connections. This study used Time Resolved Angiography with Interleaved Stochastic Trajectories (TWIST) Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) to examine contrast circulation in a cohort of patients with Fontan circulation who were having routine MRI follow up to inform the contrast timing of any subsequent CT.MethodsThis is a single centre, cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study. The time to peak (TTP) signal intensity from the MRA was recorded using regions of interest on the aorta, pulmonary arteries, cavae and Fontan conduit. Patients were grouped by ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, indexed stroke volume and cardiac index to examine if these cardiac performance parameters affected the mean TTP. Statistical analysis was performed to find the mean TTP for each of the vessels, which was consequently compared between the different cardiac performance parameters.Results35 patients were included in the study. Mean TTP contrast enhancement was 31s in the thoracic aorta, 46s in the right pulmonary artery, 41s in the left pulmonary artery and 55s in the Fontan conduit. Cardiac performance shows no statistically significant relationship to the peak contrast enhancement whether measured by ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, stroke volume index or cardiac index.ConclusionThe mean optimal timing for a single-phase examination of the Fontan circulation, following an upper limb injection, was 55 s following start of contrast injection irrespective of cardiac performance. In TWIST MRA, the IV bolus is 4–5 s duration. A longer bolus is required for CTA, around 20s, suggesting an additional delay will be required. We propose that an optimal single phase CTPA to be protocolled at 70 s following the start of contrast injection, assuming adequate iodinated contrast dose.     

颅内动脉瘤心动周期内膨胀率与其破裂的相关性研究

目的 基于四维计算机X线断层扫描(Computed tomography,CT)血管成像(Dynamic four-dimensional CTA,4D-CTA)测量,计算颅内动脉瘤心动周期内膨胀率,探讨颅内动脉瘤破裂与膨胀率的相关性。方法 回顾性分析2018年5月-2020年5月就诊于哈尔滨医科大学附属第四医院微创神经外科一病区64例(其中未破裂动脉瘤24个,破裂动脉瘤40个)患者的完整资料; 所有患者均行4D-CTA扫描并重建图像; 依据动脉瘤破裂与否,患者分为未破裂组、破裂组; 将1个心动周期的图像数据分成20个阶段,判断动脉瘤是否存在异常搏动点; 同时记录和量化每个阶段动脉瘤的形态特征,计算其体积变化率(膨胀率); 分析动脉瘤破裂相关的危险因素。结果 未破裂组中男女患者比例差异不大; 破裂组女性患者则占70%,女性患者比例显著高于男性; 破裂组吸烟史的比例明显高于未破裂组; 破裂组瘤高(4.63±1.56)mm,瘤宽(4.72±3.68)mm,瘤颈宽(3.86±1.69)mm均大于未破裂组; 破裂组异常搏动点有29个(占72.5%)、膨胀率(14.56±6.25)%; 未破裂组异常搏动点13个(占54.2%)、膨胀率(10.21±3.26)%; 2组有明显差异(P<0.05)。此外,多因素Logistic回归分析显示动脉瘤破裂与吸烟史、纵横比、异常搏动点、膨胀率有关(P<0.05)。ROC分析中纵横比临界值为1.145(P=0.002),灵敏度为77.5%,特异性为58.3%; 存在异常搏动点与否的阈值为0.5(P=0.032),灵敏度为72.5%、特异性为45.8%; 膨胀率的临界值为9.775%(P=0.001),灵敏度为85.0%、特异性为54.2%。结论 借助4D-CTA能观察心动周期内颅内动脉瘤动态变化; 本研究成功量化了动脉瘤膨胀率,颅内动脉瘤破裂与膨胀率有关; 当膨胀率>9.775%,或纵横比>1.145,或存在异常搏动点时动脉瘤破裂风险将进一步增加。     

Role of neuroimaging before reperfusion therapy. Part 1 – IV thrombolysis – Review

This review paper summarises the yield of the different imaging modalities in the evaluation of patients for IV thrombolysis. Non-contrast CT and CTA or brain MRI combined with MRA are the recommended sequences for the evaluation of patients within the 4.5 hours time window. Multimodal MRI (DWI/PWI), and more recently, CT perfusion, offer reliable surrogate of salvageable penumbra, the target mismatch, which is now currently used as selection criteria for revascularisation treatment in an extended time window. Those sequences may also help the physician for the management of other limited cases when the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke is difficult. Another approach the DWI/FLAIR mismatch has been proposed to identify among wake-up stroke patients those who have been experiencing an acute ischemic stroke evolving from less than 4.5 hrs. Other biomarkers, such as the clot imaging on MRI and CT, help to predict the recanalisation rate after IVT, while the impact of the presence microbleeds on MRI remains to be determined.     

Z轴自动管电流调制技术在头颈部CT扫描血管成像中对甲状腺剂量的降低

目的 评价在进行头颈部CT扫描血管成像时,Z轴自动管电流调制技术(ATCM)对减少甲状腺的辐射剂量的作用及对图像噪声的影响。方法 回顾性地分析140例头颈部CT增强血管成像的病例,其中用固定管电流技术和 Z 轴自动管电流调节技术各70例,观察其成像质量,记录其客观噪声水平(由CT图像衰减值的标准差进行评估),并比较其单次扫描的加权CT剂量指数CTDI_w,管电流mA及剂量长度乘积DLP。结果 在扫描范围、扫描参数(管电压、螺距、准直器厚度等)、造影剂注射速率和注射部位完全相同的情况下,固定管电流技术和 Z 轴自动管电流调节技术的图像质量相同,甲状腺图像噪声分别为10.14和13.64 HU。单次扫描的加权CT剂量指数CTDI_w(mGy)分别为(43.22±1.42)和(35.99±1.31) mGy。剂量长度乘积分别为(1514.45±5.56)和(1121.39±5.51)mGy·cm, 剂量长度乘积降低约25.95%。结论 Z 轴自动管电流调节技术能有效降低总曝光量和累计剂量长度乘积,可以有效地降低患者的辐射剂量,特别是像甲状腺和眼晶体等射线敏感组织器官的辐射剂量降低,减少其辐射危害,但是图像噪声略有增加。