PAD flow - Quantitative Assessment of Blood Flow Using Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography

Lower extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease is a condition that causes partial or complete blockages in
the leg arteries. These blockages reduce blood flow to the surrounding muscles and feet, which can lead to
tissue death and amputation. Current examinations of the arteries below the knee are limited and provide
insufficient information on blood flow. Therefore, there is a need for a more detailed diagnosis to enable
patient-specific treatment.
Calculating blood flow can provide information about these obstructions as blood flow decreases in the blood
vessels. Local irregularities in blood velocity or differences in blood velocity between
both legs may indicate an obstruction. The reduced blood flow in the arteries might also lead to a
reduced blood supply to the surrounding muscles, potentially damaging it.
We utilize a scanning technique known as 4D-CTA or time-resolved CTA to visualize the blood flow
through the arteries. This technique allows to capture several CT images, one after the other, following a
contrast agent injection. 4D-CTA allows us to track and visualize the contrast bolus through the arteries and
muscles. Using this approach, combined with several image processing techniques, we established a proof of
concept for both quantifying arterial blood flow in the lower legs and blood flow in the muscles of the foot. In
this project, we want to improve the robustness of our framework and evaluate the feasibility of extending our
quantifying methods towards other pathologies.