[The contribution of MRI to the detection of endovascular aneurysm repair].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of MR-imaging in the follow-up of patients after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms concerning detection of endoleaks.


METHODS
In the postoperative follow-up after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms, 10 consecutive patients (mean age: 68 years) were suspected to have an endoleak by helical CT and were scheduled for conventional angiography, preceded by supplemental MR-imaging to confirm or refute the diagnosis. The images of helical CT and MRI were evaluated by two independent readers concerning leak, feeding vessel and artifacts.


RESULTS
The follow-up MRI was able to detect all endoleaks (type 1 endoleak, n = 7; type 2 endoleak, n = 3) compared to all but one detected by helical CT. Of the 10 patients with an endoleak, MR-angiography visualized the feeding vessel in 7 patients and CT in one patient. MRI did show fewer metal artifacts from the stent wire than CT. For the visualization of feeding vessels and endoleaks, MRA achieved statistically significant superiority. In a single case, helical-CT was not reliable because of strange metal artefacts after previous coil embolization.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI is comparable to helical-CT in detecting endoleaks and superior to CT in demonstrating the anatomy of the feeding vessel after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms. The major advantages are fewer artifacts after coil embolization and absent radiation exposure.
Krämer
S C
SC
Abteilung für Diagnostische Radiologie, Universität Ulm. kraemer@uni-muenster.de
Görich
J
J
Pamler
R
R
Aschoff
A J
AJ
Wisianowski
C
C
Brambs
H-J
HJ
D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016477:Artifacts; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol