Application of row CT angiography on locating the artery of Adamkiewicz

Abstract

Objective To locate and analyze the artery of Adamkiewicz using row CT angiography.Methods 92 patients with snspicion for aortic lesions underwent row CT angiography.Transverse sections,coronal multiplanar reformations (MPR) and maximum intensity projections(MIP) were generated and displayed.AKA was identified according to its continuity of the intercostal or lumbar artery and hairpinconfiguration.Results 54 A K A were detected in 51 of 92 patients(55.4％),3 patients (5.9％) had a second AKA.87.0％ of AKA originated at the T8 through T(1 1) level and 77.8％ occurred on the left side of aorta.The detected ratio of AKA in patients with thoracic aorta lesions (aortic dissection or thoracic aortic aneurysms) were 44.7％,37.5％ respectively.However,the ratio in patients without thoracic aorta lesions (abdominal aortic aneurysm or atherosclerotic plaques) was 67.6％ or 66.7％.There was statistically significant difference hetween the two kinds of lesions(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The accurate level of AKA has more variations.CT angiography scan is a reliable non-invasive technique to locate AKA. Key words: Artery ofadamkiewicz; Row computer tomography; Angiography