False evidence of carotid stenosis on magnetic resonance angiography caused by surgical clips.
Patients with transient ischemic attacks are increasingly studied with magnetic resonance angiography, allowing noninvasive evaluation of both the intracranial and the extracranial vessels. Described here are 3 patients who after endarterectomies presented with transient ischemic attacks and in whom magnetic resonance angiography with a two-dimensional time-of-flight pulse sequence showed a false-positive arterial stenosis, as documented by transfemoral carotid angiography. The pseudostenosis was believed to be artifactually caused by operative clips. Results of magnetic resonance angiography should be interpreted with caution in patients with previous neck surgery.
Bertorini
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TE
Department of Neurosciences, Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, Memphis Neurosciences Center, TN, USA.
Laster
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R
D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013525:Surgical Instruments