Radiology, Vol 123, 601-604, Copyright © 1977 by Radiological Society of North America
The catheter wall simulating thrombus formation seen on pullout angiograms: an experimental study
RL Mani and RL Eisenberg
The authors investigated the nature of a radiolucent line that was seen
paralleling the radiopaque catheter wall on more than 70% of 176 pullout
angiograms. Although this line may indicate a thrombus sleeve, accumulation
of thrombus was rarely seen at the puncture site. A series of experiments
demonstrated clearly that (a) an identical line could be reproduced in a
bloodless model; (b) the width varied directly with the thickness of the
catheter wall and appeared irregular in contour with 6.5, 7, and 8 French
catheters: and (c) this line represented the outer third of the catheter
wall.
