High resolution DSA: Experimental and clinical evaluation

Abstract

The DSA system has been upgraded for capabilities of slow scan video technique and progressive T.V. read-out of 1024 × 1024 matrix with 10 bits of depth. A square wave test pattern made of lead bar demonstrated moderate improvement in spatial resolution, but imaging of a Burger-Rose phantom revealed no significant increase in contrast resolution. Clinical study of various angiograms with intraarterial injections showed that there was slight improvement in the visibility of the vessels, especially small arterial branches, while there was no increase in visibility of the veins. There were no cases in which diagnoses were altered by application of high resolution DSA. With future improvements of the image intensifiers, DSA with 1024 × 1024 matrix may reveal its potential advantage, especially when coupled to larger image intensifiers such as 12 or l4 in.