Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR-angiography and the surgical indication of brainstem cavernomas.
This study was designed to assess the diagnostic value of 3D time-of-flight MR-angiography in cerebral cavernomas. In seven patients, nine out of ten cavernomas were removed by microsurgery. While MR-angiography demonstrated well branches of brain arteries adjacent to the lesions, no flow signal in the vascular malformations was observed. On the other hand, there was a high intensity signal induced by methaemoglobin in those three patients with brainstem cavernomas who had experienced a significant bleeding attack seven months prior to admission. It had a spotted appearance in MR-angiography with volumes of the largest spots around 1.8 cm3. It is suggested that this spot signal could be used as a path marker for the surgical approach in brainstem cavernomas.
Wowra
B
B
Department of Neurosurgery, The University, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Layer
G
G
Schad
L R
LR
Ullrich
B
B
Semmler
W
W
Aschoff
A
A
Kiessling
M
M
Kunze
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged