4D Flat Panel Conebeam CTA for In Vivo Imaging of the Microvasculature of the Human Cortex with a Novel Software Prototype

N. Huizinga; F. Keil; A. Birkhold; M. Kowarschik; S. Tritt; J. Berkefeld

doi:10.3174/ajnr.A6574

Abstract

SUMMARY: It was the aim of our pilot study to investigate whether time-resolved flat panel conebeam CTA is able to demonstrate small cortical vessels in vivo. In 8 patients with small AVMs, time-resolved coronal MPRs of the vasculature of the frontal cortex were recalculated from 3D rotational angiography datasets with the use of a novel software prototype. 4D flat panel conebeam CTA demonstrated the course of the cortical arteries with small perpendicular side branches to the underlying cortex. Pial arterial and venous networks could also be identified, corresponding to findings in injection specimens. Reasonable image quality was achieved in 6 of 8 cases. In this small study, in vivo display of the cortical microvasculature with 4D flat panel conebeam CTA was feasible and superior to other angiographic imaging modalities.

ABBREVIATIONS:

3DRA: 3D rotational angiography
FPCBCTA: flat panel conebeam CTA

Footnotes

The concepts and information presented in this article are based on research and are not commercially available.
Disclosures: Fee Keil—RELATED: Payment for Writing or Reviewing the Manuscript: funding by Siemens, €750/publication paid to the university*; OTHER RELATIONSHIPS: The Workstation used for analyzing the data belongs to Siemens and was only given as a loan to our institution; cooperation between Siemens and the Institution of Neuroradiology Frankfurt with external funding of €750/publication for open access. Annette Birkhold—UNRELATED: Employment: Siemens Healthcare AG. Markus Kowarschik—UNRELATED: Employment: Siemens Healthineers AG, Comments: full-time employee. Stephanie Tritt—RELATED: Support for Travel to Meetings for the study or Other Purposes: There is a permanent scientific cooperation between Siemens and the Institute of Neuroradiology, Frankfurt, and travel fees to meetings were paid by the company.* Joachim Berkefeld—RELATED: Consulting Fee or Honorarium: scientific cooperation with Siemens Healthineers, Comments: 2.500,_ €posterior-anterior paid to the university.* The dedicated workstation for 4D reconstructions and the software prototype were provided by Siemens Healthineers*; UNRELATED: Consultancy: MicroVention; proctoring for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the Woven Endo-Bridge (WEB)-device, Comments: 3000,_ posterior-anterior honorarium. *Money paid to the institution.