title: A comparison of CT/CT angiography and MRI/MR angiography for imaging of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare dilatative arteriopathy predominantly affecting the basilar artery (BA) and vertebral arteries. Until today, the value of computed tomography (CT)/CT angiography (CTA) compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA) has not been studied systematically.
  
  
  METHODS
  We (1) compare CTA and TOF-MRA according to the established criteria (diameter at the mid-pons level, height, and lateral position), (2) explore the value of further CTA- and TOF-MRA-derived measures (maximum transverse diameter and length), as well as (3) explore the value of further non-contrast-enhanced MRI sequences such as T1, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and T2* for a detailed characterization of VBD in a series of 18 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of CTA and TOF-MRA revealed very good consistency of the measured diameter (Pearson's r = 0.994, p = 0.01) and the noted height of the BA (Kendall's tau = 1.0, p = 0.001). The same held true for the maximum transverse diameter (Pearson's r = 0.988, p = 0.01) and length of the BA (Pearson's r = 0.986, p = 0.01). In contrast to this, there was a lower agreement concerning the lateral position (Kendall's tau = 0.866, p = 0.01). In comparison with the diameter at the mid-pons level, the maximum transverse diameter was significantly larger (p = 0.002). Luminal thrombus was detected equally well by CTA and TOF-MRA. CT was useful to detect small circumscribed calcifications, whereas MRI was advantageous to demonstrate perifocal brainstem edema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We could demonstrate a substantial comparability of CT/CTA and MRI/TOF-MRA in the diagnosis of VBD. The maximum transverse diameter and length may be useful when an endovascular treatment is considered. Taking into account the different informative value of both techniques, it may be worth to perform both imaging procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68137, Mannheim, Germany, alex.foerster@umm.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ssozi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Zghloul
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brockmann
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Kerl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Groden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; 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; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*