CT angiography in carotid stenosis

Purpose: Prospective evaluation of the accuracy of CT angiography (CTA) with different postprocessing for extracranial carotid artery in comparison with DSA. Method: one hundred patients were studied with standarized CTA. For postprocessing, MPR, MIP, and 3D reconstruction based on segmentation with upper and lower threshold were used. Intravascular density profiles were considered. All CTA studies were correlated with intra-arterial angiography. The degree and classification of stenoses was determined using the guidelines established by the NASCET collaborators. Results: Measurement of stenosis was possible by MPR in 82.5 %, by MIP in 85 %, and 3D in 100 %. Correct classification was found in 65.5 % for MPR, 66 % for MIP and 88.5 % for 3D. The sensitivity for severe stenoses was 74 % for MPR, 82 % for MIP, and 93 % for 3D. The specificity of these methods was 98 %, 96 %, and 97 %, respectively. All carotid occlusions were correctly identified, no carotid artery was wrongly classified as occluded. Conclusions: CT angiography allows reliable examinations in carotid artery stenoses and occlusions. 3D reconstruction based on threshold segmentation is superior to MPR and MIP. In some circumstances, e.g., carotid occlusion, further investigation by invasive procedures is not necessary.