Vascular ❯ Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
CT Protocol for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
Problem | Evaluation of the patient with suspected or known abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). |
Protocol | The optimal protocol is a single phase contrast enhanced CT scan from diaphragm to symphysis pubis. In select cases the upper and lower limits of the scan may be extended based on the prescan topogram or the lowest scan thru the pelvis. The scan is usually a single phase acquisition with a 30-35 second scan delay after injecting 100-120 cc om ioxehol at a rate of 4-5cc a second. The need for a second run will be dependent on factors including the presence of dissection, the possibility of a leaking AAA or even delayed renal function. All images are reviewed with axial, and coronal and sagittal images. Many sites like ours find that 3D volume rendering and MIP imaging can be very helpful especially in complex cases. |
Pearls | The key to a successful exam often is tailoring the protocol to the specific patient. Prior scans when available can be very helpful. Other factors include;
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