title: Multi-detector row computed tomography angiography in diagnosing spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: initial experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multi-detector computed tomographic (MDCT) angiography is a recently developed imaging technique that can study small vessels such as medullary arteries and veins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MDCT angiography in diagnosing SDAVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings suggestive of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) and 8 control subjects underwent MDCT angiography. Both MDCT angiography and catheter angiography were performed within 5 days in patients with SDAVFs. The results of MDCT angiography in patients with SDAVFs were compared with those of catheter angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDCT angiography detected engorged perimedullary draining veins and correctly localized the fistula of the SDAVFs, and correlated well with catheter angiography. Fistula was at the thoracic level in 7 patients, and sacral level in 1 patient. MDCT angiography did not visualize the engorged perimedullary venous plexus in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDCT angiography correlated well with catheter angiography in diagnosing SDAVFs. It might play a role in shortening the length of the catheter angiography in diagnosing this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, ROC. phlai@isca.vghks.gov.tw
authors.forename: Ping-Hong
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Huay-Ben
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Chien-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lee-Ren
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Shu-Shong
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Kwo-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mei-Jui
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Ming-Ting
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Huei-Lung
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Clement-Kuen
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*