Evaluation of cerebral arteriovenous malformations using image fusion combining three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography with magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
An image fusion of 3-dimensional (D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and magnetic resonance (MR) images, DSA-MR fusion, can simultaneously visualize both information of the vasculature provided by 3D DSA and of the soft tissues provided by MR images. The authors assessed the usefulness of DSA-MR fusion images concerning the pretreatment evaluation for cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM).


METHODS
Seven consecutive patients underwent pretreatment DSA-MR fusion and then microsurgical, endovascular and/ or radiosurgical treatments.


RESULTS
DSA-MR fusion images clearly showed the spatial relationship among AVM, its feeding artery, draining vein, surrounding artery feeding the normal brain tissue, hematoma and brain tissues (gyri or brain surface) with reasonable post-processing time.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings were useful for treatment planning for AVM, especially to enable neurosurgeons to easily understand the surgical anatomy preoperatively.
Mie University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Tsu, Mie, Japan. mie1192suzuki@gmail.com
Hidenori
H
Suzuki
Hiroaki
H
Maki
Waro
W
Taki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*