Angiographic evaluation of the internal iliac artery branch in pelvic tumour patients: Diagnostic performance of multislice computed tomography angiography

The aim of the present study was to explore the classification of the internal iliac artery (IIA) and the diagnostic value of the pelvic tumour-feeding artery by multislice computed tomography angiography (MSCTA) compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). A total of 43 patients with pelvic tumours were enrolled between January 2013 and August 2017. The classification of the IIA and the quality of the feeding artery of the pelvic tumours were analysed by Yamaki's classification (Groups A-D according to IIA branching) and the 5-point scoring system. The degree of feeding artery stenosis, caused by tumour compression or invasion, was analysed by a 4-point scoring system. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine the vascular diagnostic quality identified by MSCTA and DSA. MSCTA of the pelvic arteries was successfully performed in all patients. The main classifications of the IIA were Group A, followed by Group C, then Group B and with no cases of Group D. There was no significant difference in the classification of the IIA between the left and right sides on MSCTA and DSA. The visualization quality of the IIA and its main branches showed excellent consistency, but the difference in the terminal branches of the feeding arteries in the pelvic tumours was statistically significant between MSCTA and DSA. MSCTA has great advantages in evaluating the classification of the IIA, the imaging quality evaluation of the IIA and its main branches, and in the evaluation of the pelvic tumour-feeding artery. However, in the display of the terminal arterial branches of the pelvic tumours, DSA remains irreplaceable, particularly in cases of interventional embolization.