Assessment of the collateral function of the circle of Willis: three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography compared with transcranial color-coded duplex sonography.
OBJECTIVE
Identification of the intracranial collaterals assists in identifying patients with severe occlusive disease of the internal carotid arteries who are at lower risk of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and stroke. We investigated the usefulness of MR angiography in identifying functional collaterals of the circle of Willis.


METHODS
MR angiography of the circle of Willis was performed in 50 healthy volunteers. Visibility was used as the criterion to define the intracranial collaterals as being functional. Two observers independently assessed the MR angiograms. Results were compared with those of transcranial color duplex sonography (TCCD), and results of carotid compression tests were the standard of reference for the identification of functional intracranial collaterals.


RESULTS
With MR angiograms, reviewer 1 achieved a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 81%, a positive predictive value of 95%, and a negative predictive value of 55%. Reviewer 2 achieved a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 67%, a positive predictive value of 92%, and a negative predictive value of 53%. Interobserver agreement on MR angiograms was moderate (kappa = 0.57, 95% confidence interval: 0.42, 0.72).


CONCLUSIONS
Visible collaterals of the circle of Willis on MR angiograms are able to supply collateral flow in the presence of carotid artery obstruction. However, the low negative predictive value of MR angiography indicates that, if collaterals are not visible, supplementary TCCD investigation is required.
Hoksbergen
Arjan W J
AW
Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Majoie
Charles B L
CB
Hulsmans
Frans-Jan H
FJ
Legemate
Dink A
DA
D000328:Adult; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial