Peripheral artery stent visualization and in-stent stenosis analysis in 16-row computed tomography: an in-vitro evaluation

The accuracy of 16-row multidetector CT in the visualization of different peripheral artery stents and in the appraisal of in-stent stenosis was assessed. Nine different stent types (nitinol and stainless steel) with three diameters (6, 8 and 10 mm) were used; altogether 27 stents were analyzed in a barrel-shaped vascular model. Low-grade (60%) in-stent stenoses were simulated by polyurethane sticks (70 HU) of differing diameters (2-6 mm). Imaging was performed with 16x0.75-mm detector collimation, 130 mAs, 120 kV, 12-mm table feed/rotation, 1.0-mm slice thickness and 0.5-mm increment. The stent diameter, strut thickness, in-stent attenuation values, degree and degree of in-stent stenosis were evaluated. Nitinol stents showed significantly (P