Angiografia RM a contrasto di fase delle fistole arterovenose durali intracraniche

Abstract

Ten patients with native intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) demonstrated by arteriography underwent MR imaging and phase contrast MR angiography before treatment. The DAVFs were of type I (n=2), IIa (n=l), II a+b (n? 3), and TV (n=4). Joint review of the arteriography, MR imaging and MR angiography hard copies was performed by two observers. MR imaging showed intracerebral hemorrhage in 2 patients and diffuse or focal white matter edema in 2.

Focal venous ectasias in 4 patients with type TV DAVF and dilated cortical vessels in 6 patients were recognized on MR images.

MR angiography enabled identification of the DAVF nidus in 2 patients, hypertrophic feeding vessels in 5 patients and cortical dilated veins in 8 patients. Steno-occlusive alterations of the dural venous sinuses in 6 patients were readily demonstrated on MR angiography. Moreover, in 3 patients with type II a+b DAVFs, reconstruction of image phase of MR angiography allowed identification of flow revers al in the dural sinuses near the DAVF.

Phase contrast MR angiography is a useful complement to MR imaging for identification and characterization of intracranial DAVF.