Using CT Angiography for Assessing the Superficial Temporal Artery in Bypass Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Farsad Khashayar, Hayek Reyaad A, Mamourian Alexander C, Friedman Jonathan A
Primary Institution: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Hypothesis
Can computed tomographic angiography (CTA) effectively assess the superficial temporal artery for use in external carotid artery to internal carotid artery bypass?
Conclusion
CTA may eventually prove sufficient for use in assessing the STA in preparation for EC-IC bypass.
Supporting Evidence
- CTA provided excellent visualization of the STA and its course.
- The surface caliber and course of the STA as defined by CTA correlated well with the conventional catheter angiogram.
- The patient ultimately decided on continued observation and did not undergo the bypass procedure.
Takeaway
Doctors are trying to see if a special type of scan called CTA can help them check a blood vessel in the head before doing surgery, instead of using a more invasive method.
Methodology
A helical CT scan was performed with nonionic intravenous contrast, followed by surface shaded display reconstruction and comparison with conventional angiography.
Limitations
The patient did not undergo surgery, so no direct intraoperative comparison could be made between CTA and DSA findings.
Participant Demographics
A female in the fourth decade of life.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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