Improved Arterial Visualization in Cerebral CT Perfusion―Derived Arteriograms Compared with Standard CT Angiography: A Visual Assessment Study

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 33; no. 11; pp. 2171 - 2177
• Main Authors: MENDRIK, A. M, VONKEN, E. P. A, DE KORT, G. A. P, GINNEKEN, B. Van, SMIT, E. J, VIERGEVER, M. A, PROKOP, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL American Society of Neuroradiology 01-12-2012
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Angiography - methods; Cerebral Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Interventional; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Perception; Perfusion Imaging - methods; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiographic Image Enhancement - methods; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Vision; Visualization; Nervous system diseases; Radiodiagnosis; Central nervous system; Computerized axial tomography; Angiocomputed tomography; Encephalon
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X
• DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A3118

Invasive cerebral DSA has largely been replaced by CTA, which is noninvasive but has a compromised arterial view due to superimposed bone and veins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether arterial visualization in CTPa is superior to standard CTA, which would eliminate the need for an additional CTA scan to assess arterial diseases and therefore reduce radiation dose.
In this study, we included 24 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage for whom CTA and CTP were available. Arterial quality and presence of superimposed veins and bone in CTPa were compared with CTA and scored by 2 radiologists by using a VAS (0%-100%). Average VAS scores were determined and VAS scores per patient were converted to a 10-point NRS. Arterial visualization was considered to be improved when the highest rate (NRS 10, VAS > 90%) was scored for arterial quality, and the lowest rate (NRS 1, VAS < 10%), for the presence of superimposed veins and bone. A sign test with continuity correction was used to test whether the number of cases with these rates was significant.
Average VAS scores in the proximal area were 94% (arterial quality), 4% (presence of bone), and 7% (presence of veins). In this area, the sign test showed that a significant number of cases scored NRS 10 for arterial quality (P < .02) and NRS 1 for the presence of superimposed veins and bone (P < .01).
Cerebral CTPa shows improved arterial visualization in the proximal area compared with CTA, with similar arterial quality but no superimposed bone and veins.