MRI versus helical CT for endoleak detection after endovascular aneurysm repair.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and helical CT for endoleak detection.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients underwent endovascular aneurysm repair with nitinol stent-grafts. Follow-up data sets included contrast-enhanced biphasic CT and MRI within 48 hr after the intervention; at 3, 6, and 12 months; and yearly thereafter. The endoleak size was categorized as < or = 3%, > 3% < or = 10%, > 10% < or = 30%, or > 30% of the maximum cross-sectional aneurysm area. A consensus interpretation of CT and MRI was defined as the standard of reference.


RESULTS
Of 252 data sets, 141 showed evidence for endoleaks. The incidence of types I, II, and III endoleaks and complex endoleaks was 3.2%, 40.1%, 8.7%, and 4.0%, respectively. The sensitivity for endoleak detection was 92.9%, 44.0%, 34.8%, and 38.3% for MRI, biphasic CT, uniphasic arterial CT, and uniphasic late CT, respectively. The corresponding negative predictive values were 91.7%, 58.4%, 54.7%, and 56.1%, respectively. The overall accuracy of endoleak detection and correct sizing was 95.2%, 58.3%, 55.6%, and 57.1% for MRI, biphasic CT, uniphasic arterial CT, and uniphasic late CT, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI is significantly superior to biphasic CT for endoleak detection and rating of endoleak size, followed by uniphasic late and uniphasic arterial CT scans. MRI shows a significant number of endoleaks in cases with negative CT findings and may help illuminate the phenomenon of endotension. Endoleak rates reported after endovascular aneurysm repair substantially depend on the imaging techniques used.
Pitton
Michael B
MB
Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, Mainz 55131, Germany. pitton@radiologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Schweitzer
Henriette
H
Herber
Sascha
S
Schmiedt
Walther
W
Neufang
Achim
A
Kalden
Peter
P
Thelen
Manfred
M
Düber
Cristoph
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000497:Alloys; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol