Three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography in evaluation of vertebro-basilar artery dissections: comparison with 2D DSA.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to clarify characteristic findings on three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and to investigate diagnostic usefulness of 3D DSA in vertebro-basilar dissections (VBD).


METHODS
In 25 consecutive patients with VBD, two-dimensional (2D) DSA, and 3D DSA findings were evaluated by a scoring system. The effects of 3D DSA results on diagnosis were scored in comparison with 2D DSA results.


RESULTS
A proximal stenosis, a distal stenosis, a bleb, and a relationship between the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the dissection were significantly better visualized in 3D DSA than those in 2D DSA (P < .05). A characteristic finding of VBD on 3D DSA was a combination of an aneurysmal bulging and its proximal and distal stenoses, which was observed in 92% of the 25 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional DSA was more useful for diagnosis in patients with VBD in comparison with 2D DSA.
Sorimachi
Takatoshi
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Japan. sorimachi@bri.niigata-u.ac.jp
Suzuki
Kenji
K
Sasaki
Osamu
O
Koike
Tetsuo
T
Fujii
Yukihiko
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*