Bronchial arterial angio-CT: evaluation of intradural and oesophageal enhancement before bronchial arterial infusion.

Ultrafast CT combined with bronchial angiography (BA angio-CT) demonstrated a supply from the bronchial arteries to the oesophagus and spinal cord which is not identified on conventional bronchial arteriography using a digital subtraction technique. 20 patients with bronchial carcinoma and one with lung metastasis were examined using BA angio-CT, before bronchial artery infusion. 20 ml of non-ionic iodinated contrast medium (300 mgI ml-1) was injected into the bronchial artery, and ultrafast CT of the whole mediastinum was commenced when 10 ml had been injected. The 6 mm single slice mode was used and 40 images were obtained. Intradural and oesophageal enhancement was evaluated on BA angio-CT, and compared with the findings on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the bronchial arteries. BA angio-CT clearly showed intradural enhancement in eight patients. Marked spinal cord enhancement was demonstrated in three, and a coaxial catheter technique was used to avoid infusing the intercostal branch of the intercostobronchial trunk. Oesophageal enhancement was demonstrated in 18 patients on BA angio-CT. In contrast, no enhancement of these structures was seen on bronchial arterial DSA. In conclusion, BA angio-CT enabled precise evaluation of intradural and oesophageal enhancement.