Three-dimensional X-ray coronary angiography in the porcine model: A feasibility study.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Three-dimensional high-spatial-resolution angiograms of the coronary arteries were acquired with an electrocardiogram-gated three-dimensional rotational angiography technique on an interventional X-ray system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During selective injection of contrast material in the left and right coronary artery, projection images were obtained in eight pigs during a continuous rotation of the X-ray gantry over an angular range of 180 degrees within 8 seconds. RESULTS: Three-dimensional tomographic reconstruction depicted the proximal, medial, and distal sections of the main arteries as well as the main bifurcations in multiple cardiac phases in all animals. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, this feasibility study shows that a three-dimensional angiogram of the coronary arteries can be obtained intraprocedurally in a conventional interventional suite by means of tomographic reconstruction from projection images.