The Role of Multislice Computed Angiography of the Bronchial Arteries before Arterial Embolization in Patients with Hemoptysis

Purpose: To evaluate the role of multislice computed angiography of the bronchial arteries and nonbronchial systemic arteries in patients with hemoptysis when performed before arterial embolization procedure. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with hemoptysis underwent multislice CT angiography of the bronchial arteries with dual-source 64 × 2 detector row scanner before embolization. The transverse CT images as well as the multiplanar reconstructions, the maximum intensity projections and the three-dimensional CT images were used for the depiction of bronchial arteries (the total number of the bronchial arteries, the abnormal bronchial arteries, their origin at the aorta and the diameter of the ostium). The presence of nonbronchial systemic arteries regarded as causing hemoptysis was also evaluated. Digital angiography and selective arteriograms of abnormal bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries were performed based on the findings of multislice computed tomography (MDCT). Results: Seventy-eight (40 right and 38 left) bronchial arteries were detected at computed angiography (CTA). Forty of the seventy-eight bronchial arteries that were detected at CTA, were considered abnormal. On selective angiography 38 of these bronchial arteries were regarded as causing hemoptysis. Two of these arteries could not be selectively catheterized and therefore could not be evaluated. All 38 bronchial arteries regarded as causing hemoptysis at selective angiography were detected prospectively at CTA as abnormal. Four bronchial arteries that were found to be responsible for hemoptysis had diameter <2 mm. Twelve nonbronchial systemic arteries were considered to be abnormal on CTA scans. Ten of these twelve nonbronchial systemic arteries were regarded on selective angiography as causing hemoptysis. Two of these arteries were found normal on angiography. All 10 nonbronchial arteries regarded as causing hemoptysis were detected at CTA scans. All bronchial and nonbronchial arteries causing hemoptysis were successfully embolized. Conclusion: MDCT angiography allows detailed identification of abnormal bronchial and nonbronchial systemic arteries using a variety of reformatted images, providing a precise road map for the interventional radiologist.