Topographic anatomy of paraclinoid carotid artery aneurysms: usefulness of MR angiographic source images.
We evaluated the usefulness of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for showing the topography of paraclinoid carotid artery aneurysms in 27 patients with 30 paraclinoid aneurysms undergoing conventional angiography, three-dimensional time-of-flight MRA and surgery. The anatomy shown on the axial MRA source images was consistent with that found at surgery. The neck of the aneurysm could always be identified on the source images, while it could not be analysed exactly on conventional angiography in 3 cases (10%). The optic nerves, including those displaced by the aneurysm, were recognised in all patients. The anterior clinoid process was shown as a low-intensity rim or area contiguous with the cortical bone. The source images were of great value in understanding the topography of paraclinoid carotid artery aneurysms.
Nagasawa
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka Medical College, Japan.
Deguchi
J
J
Arai
M
M
Tanaka
H
H
Kawanishi
M
M
Ohta
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography