title: Detection and characterization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: Comparison of 3T MRA and DSA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 3 Tesla (3T) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the detection and characterization of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study has been approved by our local ethical committee. From February to August 2010, 40 consecutive patients with UIA contemporarily underwent MRA at 3T including time-of-flight (TOF-MRA) and contrast enhanced (CE-MRA) techniques and DSA. MR images were independently reviewed by 3 radiologists and DSA images were reviewed by 2 radiologists together. Interobserver and intertechnique agreements were assessed for aneurysm detection and characterization including maximal diameter, neck width and the presence of a bleb or a branch arising from the sac.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DS angiography revealed 56 aneurysms. Mean sensitivity and positive predictive value of MRA were 91.4% and 93.4% respectively. For UIA < 3 mm and those ≥ 3 mm, MRA had a mean sensitivity of 74.1% and 100% respectively. Intertechnique and interobserver agreements were substantial for the measurement of UIA maximal diameter (mean κ, 0.607 and 0.601 respectively) and were moderate and fair for neck width measurement respectively (mean κ, 0.456 and 0.285 respectively). For bleb detection, intertechnique and interobserver agreements were fair and slight respectively (mean κ, 0.312 and 0.116 respectively) whereas both were slight for detection of branches arising from the sac (mean κ, 0.151 and 0.070 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR angiography at 3T has a high sensitivity for the detection of UIA. However, it remains significantly inferior to DSA for morphological characterization of UIA.
authors.affiliation: Erasme University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: benjamin_mine@me.com.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mine
authors.affiliation: Erasme University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzullo
authors.affiliation: Erasme University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gonçalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roque
authors.affiliation: Erasme University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Erasme University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Metens
authors.affiliation: Erasme University Hospital, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Route de Lennik, 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lubicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 3T magnetic resonance angiography; Digitalized subtraction angiography; Intracranial aneurysm