Multi-detector row computed tomography angiography in diagnosing spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: initial experience.
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.
Lai
Ping-Hong
PH
Department of Radiology, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, ROC. phlai@isca.vghks.gov.tw
Pan
Huay-Ben
HB
Yang
Chien-Fang
CF
Yeh
Lee-Ren
LR
Hsu
Shu-Shong
SS
Lee
Kwo-Wei
KW
Weng
Mei-Jui
MJ
Wu
Ming-Ting
MT
Liang
Huei-Lung
HL
Chen
Clement-Kuen
CK
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*