Radiology 1999; 211: 309-315
Computed tomography (CT) has been both a standard imaging modality and a guidance technique for percutaneous interventions for more than 20 years (1-5). As an interventional guidance tool, CT has been limited by a lack of real-time capability, in contrast to conventional fluoroscopy and ultrasonography (US). While conventional CT allows determination of appropriate puncture sites, direction of needle insertion, and evaluation of needle placement after insertion, it requires the time-consuming acquisition of multiple single or helical images and does not allow real-time evaluation during the puncture procedure. Conventional CT guidance may be particularly limited in body regions associated with physiologic motion, especially in the chest and upper abdomen.