Understanding CT flow artifacts is key to better disease diagnosis

Understanding the mechanics of flow artifacts on CT or CT angiography (CTA) and how these artifacts are created is key to better disease diagnosis, according to a review published April 25 in RadioGraphics. In the review, a team led by Caroline Robb, MD, of Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, described flow artifacts and how they are different from several types of conditions. "At first glance, flow artifacts may appear as a simple distractor to the discerning eye of a radiologist," Robb and colleagues noted. "However, there are many instances when identification of these artifacts is less straightforward." Flow artifacts -- that is, "turbulent flow" … "that occurs at the interface of opacified and nonopacified blood" -- are common findings on contrast-enhanced CT and it can be tricky to differentiate from true pathologic conditions, the group wrote. But recognizing flow artifacts and how they manifest can help radiologists in several ways, including the ability to better identify conditions that predispose patients to these findings, such as pneumonia, chronic lung damage, and altered cardiac output, according to Robb and colleagues. "By understanding when flow artifacts may be confounding the interpretation of an examination, radiologists can then know when to pursue other troubleshooting methods to assist with the diagnosis," they noted. "In these circumstances, the radiologist can consider several troubleshooting methods, in...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: CT Cardiovascular Radiology Source Type: news