Spiral CT angiography in the study of the carotid stenoses.

PURPOSE: To determine sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of spiral CT angiography (S-CTA) compared to Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 40 patients with suspected cerebro-vascular insufficiency by carotid stenosis. Diagnostic examinations by means of S-CTA and DSA were carried out within 24 hours of each other. Twelve of these patients underwent thromboendoarterectomy (TEA). Prospeed SX GE was used for S-CTA. Post-processing was performed using Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) after deleting osteo-muscular structures and CT angiograms were displayed in an oblique anterior view at an angle of 10 degrees-15 degrees along the longitudinal axis. For DSA examinations, a Siemens Politron 1000 VR unit was used. RESULTS: In this study S-CTA showed values of sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 88%, 100% and 96%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the future, with the improvement of non-invasive techniques (S-CTA, MRA), DSA should be replaced, as the gold-standard, in the evaluation of stenotic disease of the carotid bifurcation.