Comparison of MR angiography and conventional angiography in intracranial arteriovenous malformations

ABSTRACT

In 10 cases with intracranial arterivenous malformation (AVMs) diagnosed by MR spin echo images, MR angiography was evaluated and compared with conventional angiography in regard to depiction of nidus, arterial feeders, and draining veins. Spin echo images demonstrated the nidus of the AVM in all cases, but displayed the feeding vassels inadequately. These vessels were directly visualized with 3 dimensional STAGE(small tip angle gradient echo) MR angiography using rephasing/dephasing pulse sequences. In 5 cases MR angiography and conventional angiography showed the same results. However, in the others, MR angiography showed lower resolution than conventional angiography. MR angiography is useful in preangiographic evaluation of intracranial AVM but improvement in image resolution, which is dependent on MR hard ware and pulse sequence, is still to be desired.