[CT-angiography for diagnostic assessment of intracranial vascular aneurysms]

Intracranial aneurysms bear a high risk of morbidity and mortality especially when they have become symptomatic due to rupture or represent a space occupying lesion. Therefore operative treatment is aimed at the obliteration of the aneurysm to eliminate the risk of hemorrhage. Planning of treatment requires a diagnostic resolution capable of showing aneurysms and their anatomic relationship to the adjacent structures. Due to technical advances computed tomography has reached a diagnostic accuracy sufficient to plan aneurysm treatment. This report describes the present state of three-dimensional spiral-CT angiography (3D-spiral-CTA) and our protocol to examine the arteries of the Circle of Willis for the presence and microanatomy of aneurysms. The experience of 46 patients with 64 aneurysms is reported and the diagnostic value of the method in comparison to conventional angiography is evaluated.