title: Magnetic resonance angiographic localization of the artery of Adamkiewicz for spinal cord blood supply.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether the artery of Adamkiewicz (ARM) can be detected by magnetic resonance angiography and to determine the usefulness of preoperative magnetic resonance angiography evaluation of the ARM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2000 and December 2003, 120 patients underwent magnetic resonance angiography for detection of the ARM. The morphology of the anterior spinal artery at the ARM junction, as revealed by magnetic resonance angiography, in 99 patients in whom ARM was preoperatively detected was classified into the following three types: noncontinuation of the anterior spinal artery above the ARM junction (type A), continuation of the anterior spinal artery above and below the ARM junction (type B), and noncontinuation of the anterior spinal artery below the ARM junction (type C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ARMs were detected in 99 (83%) of 120 patients, and from a total of 110 ARMs 105 (95%) originated from intercostal arteries branching from the left side and 94 (86%) originated between Th9 and Th11. Two ARMs were found in 11 (11%) of 99 patients in whom ARMs were detected. In 107 patients, who underwent magnetic resonance angiography to reveal the morphology of the anterior spinal artery at the ARM junction, the patterns of the anterior spinal artery were type A in 59 patients (55%), type B in 21 patients (20%), type C in 3 patients (3%) and not classified in 24 patients (22%). No spinal cord injury occurred in patients in whom the ARM had been preoperatively detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative detection of the ARM is possible by magnetic resonance angiography and is very useful for reducing the incidence of ischemic injury of the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. nobuyosh@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawaharada
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyodoh
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Johji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukada
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hachiro
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.forename: Tomio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology