Dual Energy Subtraction For Evaluation Of Abdominal Vascular Disease With Dual-source CT: Initial Experience

ObjectiveTo initial study the clinical value of Dual-source CT(DSCT) dual energy subtraction angiography(DE-CTA) in diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS).Materials and MethodsFrom June to December in 2008,42 patients underwent dual energy subtract CT angiography of abdomen and also underwent digital subtraction angiography(DSA) within two weeks later,respectively.Utilizing dual energy CT post-processing software, a virtual unenhanced image and a virtual CT angiography can be generated,and virtual CT angiography data were reconstructed,include maximum intensity projection(MIP), volume render(VR).Imaging analyzed was performed in consensus by two experienced radiologists,with digital subtraction angiography(DSA) as the standard of reference.Effective radiation dose was calculated.ResultsThere was no significant difference in diagnosis of the BCS between DSA and DE-CTA(P > 0.05 ),DECTA showed that the types of obstruction of BCS included membranous stenosis(n=6),segmental occlusion(n=11) and segmental stenosis /occlusion(n= 35).Mean density values 183±0.4(true unenhnanced) and 175±0.834.1±2.1(virtual unenhanced) Hounsfield units(P>0.05).Effective dose of DECTA was lower compared with traditional 64 spiral CT(P<0.05).ConclusionDE-CTA was an effective and reliable method for evaluating BCS,which can be used as the preferred method of examination and may provide more helpful in presurgery evaluation and screening in abdominal vascular disease.