Demonstration of the course of the posterior intercostal artery (pia) at CT angiography (cta): relevance to interventional radiology (ir) procedures in the chest.

Abstract

Considerable variability in vessel position was noted within the IS, with the PIA lying furthest from the undersurface of the rib in the PPV. To avoid injury, our data support the dictum "choose a site above the rib below," and additional caution should be taken to avoid the posterior paravertebral area.