Intracranial CT Angiography with Spiral CT: Preliminary Report

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of CT angiography(CTA) with spiral CT in evaluation of intracranial vascular lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CTA and conventional angiography(CA) were performed in 22 patients with suspected intracranial vascular lesion. Nine patients had 10 aneurysms and 2 patients had arteriovenous malformation(AVM)s, while the remaining 11 patients had no vascular lesion. Twenty seconds after beginning injection of contrast media(100 mL with use of a power injector at the rate of 3 mL/sec), CT scanning(30-second continuous exposure and 60-mm length) was performed with a table speed of 2mm/sec and a section thickness of 2mm. The starting point was selected at the floor of the sella turcica. The resulting data were reformatted by MIP and SSD after reconstruction of 1 mm interval. For aneurysm, its size, shape, direction, neck and the relationship to adjacent vessels were compared to CA. RESULTS: The aneurysm diameter was ranged between 3mm and 20mm and all aneurysms were clearly visualized with CTA. CTA findings of the size, shape, direction, and neck of aneurysms and the relationship between aneurysm and adjacent vessels were well correlated with CA. In one case of aneurysm, calcification of the aneurysm wall was demonstrated on CTA. In one case of AVM, the nidus and its arterial supply and venous drainage were well visualized. In the other case of AVM, however, the feeding artery of AVM was not demonstrated on CTA(it was also unclear on CA). CONCLUSION: CTA with spiral CT may be useful in the evaluation of intracranial vascular lesion and valuable as a screening test for intracranial aneurysm.