Contrast-enhanced MR angiography (enhanced 3-D fast gradient echo) for diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms

Abstract

We evaluated contrast-enhanced MRA (enhanced 3-D fast gradient echo, EFGRE3D, with spectral IR) for the identification of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. We examined 22 aneurysms from 15 patients. In its ability to identify aneurysms, contrast-enhanced MRA was superior to 3-D-time of flight (3D-TOF) MRA in 4 instances, equal in 17, and inferior in 1. Contrast-enhanced MRA demonstrated thrombus formation more clearly and accurately than did 3D-TOF MRA. Contrast-enhanced MRA was performed in less than 1 min, and was found to be a useful method for the identification of intracranial aneurysms.

Follow-up of Coiled Cerebral Aneurysms: Comparison of Three-Dimensional Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography at 3 Tesla With Three-Dimensional Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography at 1.5 Tesla

“…Ultrafast CE-MRA sequences are rapid, permit excellent spatial resolution and better visualization of peripheral intracranial circulation, 30 are less susceptible to spin dephasing and saturation, 11,26 and readily depict the presence of aneurysms. 31,32 However, several reports have concluded that CE-MRA has no additional benefit over 3D TOF-MRA for the depiction of residual aneurysm on follow-up imaging after treatment with GDCs. 14,17,27 Previously, Cottier et al 14 used a 3D TOF-MRA sequence with and without the administration of intravenous contrast material and found no improvement in the depiction of residual or recurrent aneurysm with contrast agent.…”

3-T Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography in Evaluation of Suspected Intracranial Aneurysm: Comparison with MDCT Angiography

“…With advances in MDCT technology and high-performance CT scanners, CTA has been established as a valid noninvasive imaging technique for screening and characterization of intracranial aneurysms [27][28][29]. Contrastenhanced MR angiography also has gained wide acceptance for evaluation of intracranial aneurysms [14][15][16][17]. Because of its speed, lack of sensitivity to flow-related artifacts (spin saturation and phase dispersion), and capability of covering a large field of view, contrastenhanced MR angiography has inherent advantages over time-of-flight MR angiography [30,31] and is a practical alternative to CTA.…”

“…With the introduction of and advances in minimally invasive crosssectional techniques such as CT angiography (CTA) and MR angiography, the clinical approach to suspected cerebral aneurysm has changed substantially. CTA has been used successfully for evaluation of intracranial aneurysms [14][15][16]. The success of CTA is in large part due to its speed and high spatial resolution, and advances in MDCT technology have raised the bar for other alternative noninvasive imaging techniques.…”

“…The success of CTA is in large part due to its speed and high spatial resolution, and advances in MDCT technology have raised the bar for other alternative noninvasive imaging techniques. The use of contrast-enhanced MR angiography also has been explored for evaluation of intracranial aneurysms [14][15][16][17]. However, the competing requirements for adequate coverage and acquisition speed often force a compromise in the spatial resolution of MR angiography relative to that of CTA.…”

MR angiography with MultiHance for imaging the supra-aortic vessels

“…Two recent studies have compared contrast-enhanced MRA with other MRA protocols for the evaluation of this pathology. Suzuki et al [12] studied 22 aneurysms from 15 patients, and found that contrast-enhanced MRA (enhanced fast gradient echo 3D, EFGRE3D) was superior to 3D TOF MRA in 4 cases, while it was equivalent in 17 cases and inferior in 1 case. Furthermore, contrastenhanced MRA had a significantly shorter acquisition time (<1 min) and thus was more feasible in these patients.…”