Silent microemboli related to diagnostic cerebral angiography: a matter of operator's experience and patient's disease.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present investigation was to elucidate in a large consecutive patient cohort whether the level of training has an effect on the number of microemboli detected by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and which additional risk factors can be identified.


METHODS
A total of 107 consecutive patients in whom a diagnostic cerebral angiography had been performed were prospectively investigated with DWI; 51 angiographies were performed by experienced neuroradiologists, 56 by neuroradiologists in training.


RESULTS
In 12 patients (11.1%), a total of 17 new lesions without any clinically overt neurological symptoms were identified. Of these, 12 patients, 11 (91.7%) with 16 lesions were investigated by junior neuroradiologists. In 11 of 12 patients with DWI abnormalities (91.7%), risk factors could be identified (atherosclerotic vessel wall disease, vasculitis, hypercoagulable states). Experienced neuroradiologists performed 21 of 48 angiographies (43.8%) on patients with the above-mentioned risk factors, whereas junior neuroradiologists performed 27 angiographies in this subgroup (46.2%). The rate of diffusion abnormalities in patients with risk factors was 11/48 (22.9%) - considerably higher than in patients without risk factors (1/59; 1.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The level of experience and the nature of the underlying disease are predictors of the occurrence of cerebral ischemic events following neuroangiography. Alternative diagnostic modalities should be employed in patients who are investigated for diseases with the highest risk of angiographic complications (i.e., vasculitis, and arteriosclerotic vessel wall disease). If diagnostic angiography remains necessary in these patients, the highest level of practitioner training is necessary to ensure good patient outcome.
Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Technical University Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. tkrings@izkf.rwth-aachen.de
T
T
Krings
K
K
Willmes
R
R
Becker
I G
IG
Meister
F J
FJ
Hans
M H T
MH
Reinges
M
M
Mull
A
A
Thron
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors