title: 3-T magnetic resonance angiography in primary angiitis of the central nervous system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare disease characterized by an inflammatory process of intracranial vessels. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) (3 T) offers increased signal-to-noise ratio and background suppression, leading to better depiction of the intracranial vessels. The aim of our work was to compare the sensitivity of 3-T MRA to that of 1.5-T MRA in the diagnosis of PACNS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with PACNS and signs of angiitis at digital subtraction angiography (DSA) underwent MRA at 1.5 and 3 T. Magnetic resonance angiograms obtained with time-of-flight (TOF) technique were evaluated for the presence of stenosis with respect to DSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In PACNS patients, DSA identified 827 intracranial stenoses. Sensitivity for vessel stenosis of 3-T TOF MRA was 47% and 14% for 1.5-T TOF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time-of-flight MRA at 3 T improved the sensitivity of MRA in the noninvasive preliminary evaluation of patients with PACNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosottini
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canovetti
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pesaresi
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizzanelli
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Catarsi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puglioli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavoni
authors.forename: Ubaldo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bonuccelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis*