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Evaluation of cerebral aneurysms with helical CT: correlation with conventional angiography and MR angiography
R B Schwartz1, H M Tice, S M Hooten
1Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Insights
Helical computed tomography (CT) effectively detects intracranial aneurysms 3 mm or larger, comparable to magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. This noninvasive imaging method shows promise for visualizing brain vasculature.
Area of Science:
- Neuroradiology
- Medical Imaging
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Intracranial aneurysms pose a significant risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Accurate and timely detection is crucial for effective patient management.
- Noninvasive imaging modalities are preferred to reduce patient risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of helical computed tomography (CT) in detecting intracranial aneurysms.
- To compare helical CT findings with conventional angiography and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-one patients with 30 intracranial aneurysms were included.
- Helical CT and conventional angiography were performed on all patients.
- Seventeen patients (24 aneurysms) also underwent MR angiography.
Main Results:
- Helical CT and MR angiography detected all aneurysms measuring 3 mm or larger.
- No aneurysms smaller than 3 mm were visualized by either modality.
- Detection was comparable, with some aneurysms visualized better by helical CT (n=6) and others by MR angiography (n=4) due to specific artifacts or calcification.
Conclusions:
- Helical CT is a promising noninvasive technique for imaging intracranial aneurysms.
- Its diagnostic performance is comparable to standard MR angiography for aneurysm detection.
Purpose:
To evaluate detection of intracranial aneurysms with helical computed tomography (CT) and compare the results with those of conventional angiography and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty-one patients with 30 intracranial aneurysms were studied with helical CT and conventional angiography; 17 of the patients (24 aneurysms) also underwent MR angiography.
Results:
All aneurysms 3 mm or larger in greatest dimension were seen with helical CT and MR angiography; no aneurysms smaller than 3 mm were apparent with either modality. Of the 21 aneurysms demonstrated with both helical CT and MR angiography, 11 were seen equally well with both techniques; six were seen better with helical CT owing to flow-related or motion artifact at MR angiography, and four were seen better with MR angiography because calcium partially obscured them at helical CT.
Conclusion:
Helical CT is a promising noninvasive method of imaging the intracranial vasculature and is comparable with standard MR angiographic techniques in demonstrating aneurysms.