Comparison of three-dimensional rotational angiography and digital subtraction angiography for the evaluation of the liver transplants

Purpose: The objective of this study is to define the role of three-dimensional (3D) rotational angiography (RA) in the evaluation of transplant hepatic arteries and compare it with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Materials and methods: The patency of the arteries and anastomoses, confidence in the ability to make a therapeutic decision, and the value of the study for the definition of the optimal projection for an intervention were graded on a scale from 0 to 10. Results: Forty-three vascular segments in five patients were available for analysis. Complete concordance between 3D RA and DSA was present in 92.9% of the major (extrahepatic) segments. Three-dimensional RA demonstrated two major hepatic segments that were not visualized on DSA. There was no difference in diagnostic confidence, but 3D RA was considered superior for planning the optimal projection for intervention (10 +/- 0 vs. 6.4 +/- 1.8). Conclusion: Three-dimensional RA DSA allows a more complete depiction of the hepatic allograft arterial system than DSA with comparable accuracy. Three-dimensional RA provides similar degrees of confidence in the ability to make a treatment decision, and its appropriate implementation could help reduce overall contrast and radiation dose. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.