[Clinically silent cerebral embolisms after cerebral catheter angiography].
OBJECTIVE
To assess for the incidence of clinically silent cerebral lesions after cerebral catheter angiography.


METHODS
MRI including PD-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted images was performed shortly before and after 27 cerebral catheter angiographies.


RESULTS
After 5/27 angiographies (18.5%) we found 6 new, presumably embolic cerebral lesions with a typical diameter of 2-3 mm on diffusion-weighted images. No correlation was found between the occurrence of these lesions and a preexisting arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, fluoroscopy time, or number of angiographic series.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebral angiography appears to be associated with a relatively high risk (about 20%) of clinically silent cerebral embolism. This risk is higher than has been estimated based on the incidence of neurological deficits (0.1-0.3%) after cerebral angiography. The safety of cerebral angiography needs to be improved. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging is suitable to monitor the safety of angiographic procedures and material.
Hähnel
S
S
Abt. Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg. Stefan_Haehnel@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Bender
J
J
Jansen
O
O
Hartmann
M
M
Knauth
M
M
Büsing
K
K
Sartor
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002404:Catheterization; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety