High false-negative rate of the anterior spinal artery by intercostobronchial trunk arteriography alone compared to CT during arteriography.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the frequencies of the anterior spinal arteries identified by CT during arteriography (CTA) and arteriography alone. METHODS: This retrospective study included 137 vessels in 83 patients who performed both bronchial arteriography and CTA and categorized them into three groups based on the catheter tip locations: intercostobronchial trunk (ICBT), bronchial artery (BA), and intercostal artery (ICA). The frequencies of anterior spinal artery identified by CTA and arteriography alone were compared for each group. RESULTS: ICBT, BA, and ICA groups were evaluated by CTA in 46, 79, and 12 vessels, respectively. By CTA evaluation, anterior spinal artery was identified in seven vessels (15.2%) in ICBT group, 0 in BA group and two (16.7%) in ICA group. The frequencies of anterior spinal artery were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in ICBT and ICA groups than in BA group. By arteriography evaluation alone, a faint anterior spinal artery was identified in two vessels (4.3%) in ICBT group, 0 in BA group, and 1 (8.3%) in ICA group. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior spinal artery branched only from the ICBT or ICA and not from the BA in both arteriography and CTA assessments. There was high false-negative rate (71%) of the anterior spinal artery by ICBT arteriography alone assessment compared to CTA assessment. This result explains one of the reasons that spinal ischemia occurs in arteriography-negative spinal artery cases. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: False-negative rate of anterior spinal artery was 71% (5/7) by intercostobronchial trunk arteriography alone assessment.