Identification of the Inflow Zone of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms: Comparison of 4D Flow MRI and 3D TOF MRA Data

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The hemodynamics of the inflow zone of cerebral aneurysms may be a key factor in coil compaction and recanalization after endovascular coil embolization. We performed 4D flow MR imaging in conjunction with 3D TOF MRA and compared their ability to identify the inflow zone of unruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Parent Artery Curvature Influences Inflow Zone Location of Unruptured Sidewall Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms

“…In addition, 4D flow MR imaging may have the limitation of spatial resolution. 15,22 These disadvantages can cause unstable and irregular streamline patterns irrelevant to the vascular shape on 4D flow MR images. High-resolution MR imaging at Ͼ3T may decrease these artifacts.…”

“…32 Using 4D flow MR imaging, we recently reported that the inflow zone was not located on the distal neck in 25% of sidewall aneurysms. 15 In this study, we defined the locations of the inflow zones more precisely by investigating the correlation between inflow zone location and parent artery central axis on the en face image of the section plane of the aneurysm orifice by using 4D flow MR imaging. Consequently, the inflow zone was located on the distal neck in 31.3%, the lateral side of the neck in 59.4%, and the proximal neck in 9.4% of unruptured sidewall ICA aneurysms.…”

“…1,14,[16][17][18][19] 4D flow MR imaging based on time-resolved 3D cine phasecontrast MR imaging techniques was recently used to evaluate the hemodynamics of cerebral aneurysms [20][21][22][23][24] and to identify the inflow zone of cerebral aneurysms. 15 However, no previous studies have examined the correlation between the distribution of the inflow zone on the section plane corresponding to the aneurysm orifice and aneurysm morphology or the parent artery curvature in patient-specific imaging analysis, to our knowledge. Here we investigated the influence of morphologic factors or the parent artery curvature on the inflow zone location identified by using 4D flow MR imaging in unruptured sidewall ICA aneurysms.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6]14 Therefore, both identification of the exact location of the inflow zone and evaluation of the hemodynamics around this area may contribute to predicting future aneurysmal behaviors or obtaining good treatment outcomes. 15 Previous studies have estimated that neck width and geometric relationship between an aneurysm and the parent artery are dominant factors in the determination of the inflow zone location. 1,14,[16][17][18][19] 4D flow MR imaging based on time-resolved 3D cine phasecontrast MR imaging techniques was recently used to evaluate the hemodynamics of cerebral aneurysms [20][21][22][23][24] and to identify the inflow zone of cerebral aneurysms.…”

Clinical value of black-blood high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging for intracranial atherosclerotic plaques

“…Therefore, the clinical applications of DSA are limited (9). MRA possesses a number of advantages, including non-invasiveness, no requirement for radiation, a high distinguishing capacity in soft tissues and the possibility of multiparameter comparison and imaging (10). 3D-TOF MRA is the most common angiography technology in clinical practice, and the primary advantage of 3D-TOF MRA is the acquisition of a wide range of cerebral artery MRA images in a relatively short period.…”