[MR angiography in diagnosis of vasculitis and benign angiopathies of the central nervous system].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate TOF 3D magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the intracranial arteries in patients with vasculitis or vasculitis-like benign angiopathy of the central nervous system (CNS).


METHODS
The results of MRA in 20 patients with clinically and radiographically proven vasculitis (17/20) or vasculitis-like benign angiopathy (3/20) of the CNS were retrospectively analysed. Patients with hyperintense lesions of more than 3 mm on T2-weighted MRI images were included in this trial. An inflammatory, embolic, neurodegenerative or metastatic origin of these lesions was excluded by extensive clinical studies. For the MR-examination a TOF 3D FISP sequence was used on a 1.5 T imager.


RESULTS
MRA showed characteristic changes for vasculitis or angiopathy in 15 of 20 patients (75%).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients suspected of having a vasculitis or vasculitis-like angiopathy, MRA is recommended as a non-invasive modality. If the results of MRI and extensive clinical studies are carefully correlated, MRA may substitute conventional angiography in cases with typical vascular changes.
Schlüter
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Klinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. andreas.schlueter@medizin.uni-halle.de
Hirsch
W
W
Jassoy
A
A
Kornhuber
M
M
Behrmann
C
C
Keysser
G
G
Spielmann
R P
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology