Detection of delayed cerebral vasospasm, after rupture of intracranial aneurysms, by magnetic resonance angiography.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to assess the value of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), compared with conventional angiography, in the diagnosis and follow-up monitoring of delayed cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from rupture of intracranial aneurysms.


METHODS
For 32 patients undergoing examination by both MRA and conventional angiography during the period of risk for vasospasm, on the same day, the frequency and severity of and sequential changes in vasospasm were evaluated. The three-dimensional time-of-flight method was used. MRA was performed three times, i.e., before, during, and after the period of risk for vasospasm. Conventional angiography was performed twice, i.e., at admission and during the period of risk for vasospasm. Vasospasm was assessed at 22 regions of the cerebral arteries, including the bilateral anterior cerebral (A1, A2, and A3 segments), middle cerebral (M1, M2, and M3 segments), internal carotid (C1 and C2 segments), posterior cerebral (P1 and P2 segments), and posterior communicating arteries.


RESULTS
Seven patients were excluded because of poor MRA images. Twenty-two of 25 patients (125 arteries) showed vasospasm in conventional angiograms. Nineteen of the 22 patients also showed vasospasm in MRA images; however, 57 arteries (45.6%) were diagnosed as showing vasospasm by MRA, and 59 (47.2%) could not be evaluated because of artifacts. For the remaining three patients (nine arteries, 7.2%), vasospasm could not be detected by MRA. Sequential changes in vasospasm could be well evaluated by MRA.


CONCLUSIONS
MRA could be useful for management of cerebral vasospasm, although it cannot become a practical alternative to conventional angiography.
Tamatani
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Niigata University, Japan.
Sasaki
O
O
Takeuchi
S
S
Fujii
Y
Y
Koike
T
T
Tanaka
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003250:Constriction; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012306:Risk; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments