title: Feasibility of Noninvasive Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in a Case Series with Carotid-Cavernous Fistula using High-Resolution Time-Resolved MR-Angiography with Stochastic Trajectories (TWIST) and Extended Parallel Acquisition Technique (ePAT 6) at 3 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evaluation of carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) and the intracranial vasculature has been predominantly carried out using conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Recent developments in time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provide the opportunity to assess both multiple arterial and venous phases with high temporal and spatial resolution. Here, we investigated the feasibility of this technique to functionally assess CCF prior to intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six consecutive patients with clinical symptoms of a CCF were scheduled for clinically indicated MRA and underwent a protocol that comprised conventional imaging sequences and high resolution time-resolved MRA with interleaved stochastic trajectories (TWIST). The location of the fistulous communication, the flow pattern, and venous drainage were determined by time-resolved MRA and compared with DSA which was available in five out of six patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typical morphological findings (including enlargement of the superior ophthalmic vein, exophthalmos) were found in all cases in both conventional MRI and time-resolved MRA source data. The temporal resolution of time-resolved MRA enabled a good separation of the early filling of the cavernous sinus during the arterial phase. Direct fistulous communication was assessed in three patients with good correlation to DSA, whereas indirect CCF could not definitely be visualized. The time-resolved MRA provided information about the flow pattern and the venous drainage of the fistula in all patients, which is essential for therapy planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time-resolved MRA provides important morphological and functional information in patients with CCF. Although DSA remains the gold standard for diagnosis and exact classification of fistulas, time-resolved MRA can provide the relevant hemodynamic information to plan interventional treatment as a one-step procedure with a focused diagnostic workup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany, achim.seeger@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seeger
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bischof
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuettauf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ernemann
authors.forename: T-K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; 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; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013269:Stochastic Processes