Usefulness of Rotational Digital Subtraction Angiography for the Head and Neck Region

Abstract

We are currently using a new radiodiagnostic device for rotational digital subtraction angiography (R-DSA: INTEGRIS V3000) in which the gantry can be rotated from 0 to a maximum of 180 degrees. If the gantry rotation is set for 10 to 30 degrees, we can scan 15 fields per second. A three dimensional image of up to 180 degrees can thus be obtained with a one-shot contrast media injection for head and neck angiography. The subjects of this report consisted of 33 cases in whom R-DSA had been used for the head and neck region, including 27 cases which underwent superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for cancer,3 cases which underwent superselective intraarterial embolization for severe epistaxis and 3 cases which underwent cancer chemotherapy via the intra-arterial catheterization of the posterior occipital artery. This method was especially useful in evaluating the locations of the branches of the external carotid and subclavian arteries, and their angles on two-dimensional images.
Recently, the use of R-DSA for the head and neck region has become more convenient, and the angiography performed on these patients has improved. We conclude that R-DSA is a very useful method for examining the head and neck region.