CT Angiogram of the Chest - Overview & Technique

CT Angiography of the chest is for examination of chest diseases with or without intravascular contrast medium. Due to the high contrast between the intraparenchymal vessels and the surrounding aerated lung, arteries and veins can be depicted down to inframillimetric diameters. Consequently, the distribution and morphology of the peripheral vascular bed can be nicely demonstrated without using contrast medium. Maximum intensity projection applied on slabs of contiguous thin slices is helpful. It helps to identify the horizontal and oblique vessels to or from the subpleural lung to the hilum. It can analyse both the dichotomous and supernumerary branching patterns. It improves the depiction of the arteriolocentric distribution of micrometastases and peribronchovascular location of the micronodules in sarcoidosis. It clearly identifies very tiny pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) or acquired fistulas.

CTA of the Chest - Alternative Names and Explanations

CT Angiogram - Chest with & w/o contrast 71275, CT Angiography Chest

Chest CTA - Benefits

• CTA can be used to examine blood vessels in many key areas of the body, including the brain, kidneys, pelvis
• Rapid injury assessment, no time wasted
• less discomfort because contrast material is injected into an arm vein rather than into a large artery in the groin.
• CT can be performed if you have an implanted medical device of any kind, unlike MRI.
• CT imaging provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and needle aspirations of many areas of the body, particularly the lungs, abdomen, pelvis and bones.
• A diagnosis determined by CT scanning may eliminate the need for exploratory surgery and surgical biopsy.
• No radiation remains in a patient's body after a CT examination.
• X-rays used in CT scans usually have no immediate side effects.

CT Angiogram of the Chest - Positive Findings

The indications for CT angiography of proximal vessels down to the subsegmental vessels, using contrast medium are numerous. In comparison to MR angiography, it relies on the simultaneous ability to precisely analyse the lung, the pleura, the hilum and the mediastinum on a single acquisition. Current indications for CT angiography include:

• The detection of acute and chronic pulmonary embolism down to the subsegmental level in patients able to hold their breath for 18 seconds;
• The preoperative management and postoperative follow-up of lung cancer;
• The investigation of pulmonary arterial hypertension of unknown origin;
• The investigation of pulmonary abnormalities suspected of being of vascular origin

CTA Chest - Images

CT Angiogram (Chest) - References, Links, and Additional Information 

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