MDCT Application in the Vascular System

ABSTRACT

Helical CT has improved with faster gantry rotation, more powerful X-ray tubes, and improved interpolation algorithms; however, the greatest advance has been made by the recent introduction of multi detector-row computed tomography (MDCT) scanners. Fundamental advantages of MDCT include substantially shorter acquisition times, retrospective creation of thinner or thicker sections from the same raw data, and improved threedimensional (3-D) rendering with diminished helical artifacts. While these features will likely be important to many applications of CT scanning, the greatest impact has been on CT angiography. The advantages of MDCT over single detector-row CT scanners when imaging the vascular system can be broken down into three fundamental improvements, that is, speed (faster scan time), distance (longer coverage), and section thickness (better resolution). This article will focus on how the MDCT technology has substantially improved imaging of the vascular system, including pulmonary artery, aorta and extremity vessels.