Clinical application of 16-slice spiral CT angiographic analysis of the inferior phrenic arteries

Objective: To determine the efficacy of 16-slice spiral CT angiography for delineating the inferior phrenic arterial supply of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Abdominal CT angiography of 47 patients with primary massive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC group) and 78 patients without abdominal disease (control group) was retrospectively analyzed. The appearance and diameters of the inferior phrenic arteries using maximum intensity projection (MIP), curved planar reformation (CPR) and volume rendering (VR) reconstruction techniques were compared. Results: MIP was significantly better than CPR and VR; CPR was significantly better than VR for depicting the inferior phrenic artery . The mean diameter of the right inferior phrenic artery was significantly larger in the HCC group (2.3 ± 0.3 mm, range 1.6-2.8 mm) than that in the control group (2.1 ± 0.3 mm, range 1.2-2.8 mm). Conclusion: 16-slice spiral CT angiography can display the inferior phrenic arterial supply of HCC in a fast, accurate and non-traumatic manner. It is useful for guiding TACE treatment in HCC. (authors)