Occult intracranial aneurysms in polycystic kidney disease: screening with MR angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence, location, and type of cerebral aneurysms in patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) and identify associated risk factors.


METHODS
Ninety-three patients with PCKD were screened for aneurysms with spin-echo parenchymal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography. Prevalence was estimated with the calculated proportions of patients who had aneurysms, adjusted for reported sensitivity and specificity of MR angiography.


RESULTS
Thirteen aneurysms, found in 10 patients, were 7 mm or smaller in largest dimension; 11 of these aneurysms were saccular. Intra- and interobserver variabilities were 96%-98%. Conventional arteriograms, obtained in six patients, helped confirm the MR angiographic findings. The best estimates of prevalence of aneurysms were 11.7% in the study group (n = 93) and 25.8% in patients with a family history of aneurysms (n = 6).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of aneurysms in the study group was greater than in the general population. MR angiography is useful in screening for cerebral aneurysms.
Ruggieri
P M
PM
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
Poulos
N
N
Masaryk
T J
TJ
Ross
J S
JS
Obuchowski
N A
NA
Awad
I A
IA
Braun
W E
WE
Nally
J
J
Lewin
J S
JS
Modic
M T
MT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D007690:Polycystic Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity