MR angiography for the long-term follow-up of dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery.
OBJECTIVE
We used MR angiography to examine and follow up the changes of dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA).


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 101 consecutive patients with dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial ICA. Twenty patients with 26 spontaneous dissecting aneurysms were followed up with MR angiography every 1-2 years (men, 16; women, four; age range, 28-67 years; mean age, 51 years).


RESULTS
The mean duration of follow-up was 41 months (range, 10-93 months). At MR angiography follow-up, 20 aneurysms did not change, four decreased from their original size by 33-53% (mean, 43%), and two resolved. One patient had an asymptomatic recurrent dissecting aneurysm of the extracranial ICA. Clinically, no patient had a thromboembolic stroke or transient ischemic attack during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
MR angiography revealed that dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial ICA remain stable, decrease in size, or resolve--but they do not increase in size.
Djouhri
H
H
Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
Guillon
B
B
Brunereau
L
L
Lévy
C
C
Bousson
V
V
Biousse
V
V
Arrivé
L
L
Tubiana
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors