The advent of spiral CT has brought about a major breakthrough in abdominal imaging. This volume, written by US and European experts in the field, is designed to provide detailed information on all pertinent aspects of the technique. Introductory chapters examine image acquisition and processing, but the main focus is on clinical applications. The key pathologies of each abdominal organ system in which spiral CT has resulted in a major diagnostic improvement are discussed in depth and richly illustrated. Attention is paid to the choice of the parameters for imaging and automated contrast material injection, tailored to each specific organ and to the most common clinical conditions. The advantages and drawbacks of spiral CT are carefully appraised relative to other imaging modalities, particularly Doppler sonography and MRI. The concluding chapters are devoted to topics such as abdominal trauma, spiral CT in children, and CT-guided interventional procedures.

1 Principles

2 Data/Image Processing
3 Reconstruction Techniques for CT Angiography
4 Tailoring the Imaging Protocol
5 Segmental Anatomy of the Liver in Spiral CT
6 Spiral CT of Hepatic Metastases
7 Hemangioma
8 Adenoma and Focal Nodular Hyperplasia
9 Hepatocellular Carcinoma
10 Perfusion Disorders
11 The Case for Ultrasonography
12 The Case for Spiral CT
13 Liver: Role of Helical CT and Controversies: the Case for MRI
14 Synthesis
15 Tailoring the Imaging Protocol
16 Benign and Malignant Biliary Stenoses
17 Choledocholithiasis and CT Cholangiography
18 Spiral CT for the Diagnosis and Staging of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
19 CT of Endocrine and Cystic Tumors of the Pancreas
20 Helical CT of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis]
21 The Case for Ultrasonography
22 The Case for Spiral CT
23 The case for MRI
24 Synthesis
25 Tailoring the Imaging Protocol
26 Spiral CT of Renal Perfusion Abnormalities
27 Retroperitoneum and Ureters
28 Adrenals
29 Detection and Staging of Renal Neoplasms
30 The Case for Ultrasonography
31 The Case for Spiral CT
32 The Case for MRI
33 Synthesis
34 CT Enteroclysis
35 Virtual Colonoscopy
36 Mesenteric Ischemia
37 Synthesis: Impact of Spiral CT on Imaging of the GI Tract and Comparison with Other Imaging Modalities
38 Aorta and Visceral Arteries
39 The Case for Doppler Sonography
40 The Case for CT Angiography
41 The Case for MR Angiography
42 Synthesis
43 Helical CT in Patients with Abdominal Trauma
44 Spiral CT of the Paediatric Abdomen: Technique and Applications
45 Interventional Procedures
46 New Contrast Media for Liver CT
47 Spiral CT Imaging Protocols for Abdominal Studies
List of contributors.