Intracranial aneurysm detection with 3T magnetic resonance angiography.
BACKGROUND
The new 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance (MR) scanners yield improved signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution with superior background suppression compared to lower field strength systems. This is advantageous for MR angiograms. The purpose of our study was to compare unenhanced three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA) at 3T with catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in detecting unruptured intracranial aneurysms.


METHODS
Out of 1375 consecutive patients who underwent unenhanced 3D TOF MRA at 3T, 15 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms were retrospectively identified. Nine of these 15 patients had DSA as the reference standard for comparison. Aneurysm size, location and morphology were independently assessed on both MRA and DSA by 2 radiologists.


RESULTS
Seventeen aneurysms ranging in size from 1 mm to 24 mm were identified in 15 patients on MRA. DSA confirmed the aneurysms in 9 patients with good anatomical correlation compared with the MRA findings.


CONCLUSIONS
3D TOF MRA at 3T has good correlation with DSA and aneurysms as small as 1 mm in size can be detected. This can be a promising, non-invasive method for aneurysm surveillance.
Tang
Phua-Hwee
PH
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Hui
Francis
F
Sitoh
Yih-Yian
YY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore