Time-resolved MR angiography for the classification of endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of time-resolved MR angiography (TR-MRA), compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA), in the classification of endoleaks in patients who have undergone endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).


METHODS
Thirty-one patients who had undergone EVAR to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm were evaluated with both TR-MRA and DSA to determine endoleak etiology. The patient population consisted of 26 men and 5 women with a mean age of 78.5 years (range, 55-93 years). The mean time interval between TR-MRA and DSA was 1.5 weeks (range, 1-8 weeks). Endoleaks were classified as type II when enhancement of the external iliac vessels was observed before the appearance of the endoleak; otherwise the endoleak was classified as type I or III. The results of TR-MRA classification were compared with the reference gold standard, DSA.


RESULTS
Agreement between TR-MRA and DSA regarding endoleak classification occurred in 30 of 31 cases (97%). Discordant classification occurred in a case in which a Type II endoleak was misclassified as a Type III due to failure to visualize a lumbar vessel.


CONCLUSIONS
TR-MRA is highly effective in classifying endoleaks following EVAR when compared with DSA.
Cohen
Emil I
EI
Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY 10029, USA. emil.cohen@mountsinai.org
Weinreb
David B
DB
Siegelbaum
Robert H
RH
Honig
Sean
S
Marin
Michael
M
Weintraub
Joshua L
JL
Lookstein
Robert A
RA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis