3D-CTA for diagnosis of mesenteric arterial disease                  XIAO Liang, MU Xiao-lin. Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001,China
Corresponding author：XIAO Liang, E-mail：xiaoliang1972@126.com
Abstract    Mesenteric artery CTA, displaying not only the luminal structures of the lesions but also the anatomy of the outer lumen and the luminal structures of the segment beyond occlusive lesion, has become an important diagnostic tool of mesenteric artery disease. Correct interpretation of the mesenteric artery CTA images should know something as following: (1) Familiar with mesenteric artery anatomy and important communicating branches, such as the communicating branch between celiac artery and SMA, jejuno-ileal artery anastomosis, the communicating branch between IMA and SMA, and Riolan’s arch; (2) Understand the advantages and disadvantages of different image reconstruction: VR can display vivid anatomy and the relationships of neighbor branches, but it’s capability of displaying the arterial details is unsatisfactory; MIP displays poorer SMA spatial structure as more overlapping artifacts; TS-MIP can distinctly show the tiny blood vessels of mesenteric vascular network, but SMA spatial structure could not be displayed satisfactorily; CPR can clearly show the structural characteristics of the SMA trunk lesion, but can not show the relationship between the trunk and the branches. Integrative utilization of various reconstruction techniques and combining with window technology should overall display morphological features of mesenteric arterial disease in detail. In addition, combining clinical features of the diseases, we can make the correct diagnosis and provide a basis of the clinical therapeutic regimen.