[Magnetic resonance angiography: a new diagnostic technique for neurosurgical abnormality]

The paper summarizes experience with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) used in the diagnosis of neurosurgical diseases. The studies were performed on a Magnetom 42SP 1.0T tomograph (Siemens, Germany). The protocol included imaging in standard modes of T1-, T2- weighted images and different MRA techniques, depending on the nature of presumable changes. Based on 215 cases, the authors made a comparative analysis while using different MRA sequences in each type of abnormal changes. The potentialities and techniques in the detection of cerebrovascular diseases were defined. In addition to the efficiency of standard MRA techniques, that of paramagnetic contrasting used in the imaging of venous structures of the base of the skull was evaluated. The studies indicated that the technique was highly informative in detecting vascular diseases, such as arterial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, venous thromboses and occlusions of the brain, as well as dislocation changes in the vessels adjacent to tumors.