ABSTRACT
Objective To study the imaging of arteriovenous malformation(AVM)and cerebral cavernous angiomas(CCA)by 3D-TOF MRA and SWI.Methods The clinical manifestations and MR imaging characteristics of 44 cases with intracranial vascular malformations were retrospectively analyzed.The MRA imaging and SWI imaging of 26 CCA cases and 18 AVM cases were compared.Results The location,size,input.artery and output vein of arteriovenous fistula were clearly showed by 3D-TOF MRA.3D-TOF-MRA did not show the artery of hemangioma.The imaging of SWI can clear display the number and increase of cavernous hemangioma,comparing with the conventional sequence.Moreover,SWI was effective to show the tortuous veins of arteriovenous malformation.However,it was not able to directly show the overview of abnormal blood vessels and big arteries such as input artery.Conclusion 3D-TOF MRA technologies is powerful to show the arteriovenous malformation with high flow velocity and low resistance(Such as AVM),while SWI has advantages in showing the cavernous hemangioma with low flow velocity and small diameters.Joining 3D-TOF-MRA and SWI techniques will improve the detection of cerebral vascular malformations and reduce the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.