PURPOSE: Minimal- or non-invasive methods replacing intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) would be of great importance in patients suffering from acute subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The aims of this study were to compare CTA with IA-DSA in patients with acute SAH, to compare CTA interpretations with those of blinded, independent reviewers and to evaluate improvement in CTA diagnostics after 1 year of experience with CTA. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During 2 years 162 patients with SAH underwent CTA as well as IA-DSA. Independent blinded review of 77 patients was performed for 1 year. RESULTS: Totally 144 aneurysms were demonstrated in 119 patients at IA-DSA, while 43 patients had normal intracranial arteries. Initially 131 aneurysms were detected at CTA while 2 normal, tortuous arteries were misinterpreted as aneurysms, giving a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 95%. At independent blinded review the observer agreement was 87% and the kappa value 0.68. CONCLUSION: CTA in SAH is of great value in demonstrating vascular anatomy and the exact size of an aneurysm. However, IA-DSA is still needed for diagnostic evaluation in aneurysms smaller than 5 mm in diameter, especially in those located near bony structures.
PURPOSE: Minimal- or non-invasive methods replacing intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) would be of great importance in patients suffering from acute subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The aims of this study were to compare CTA with IA-DSA in patients with acute SAH, to compare CTA interpretations with those of blinded, independent reviewers and to evaluate improvement in CTA diagnostics after 1 year of experience with CTA. MATERIAL AND METHOD: During 2 years 162 patients with SAH underwent CTA as well as IA-DSA. Independent blinded review of 77 patients was performed for 1 year. RESULTS: Totally 144 aneurysms were demonstrated in 119 patients at IA-DSA, while 43 patients had normal intracranial arteries. Initially 131 aneurysms were detected at CTA while 2 normal, tortuous arteries were misinterpreted as aneurysms, giving a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 95%. At independent blinded review the observer agreement was 87% and the kappa value 0.68. CONCLUSION:CTA in SAH is of great value in demonstrating vascular anatomy and the exact size of an aneurysm. However, IA-DSA is still needed for diagnostic evaluation in aneurysms smaller than 5 mm in diameter, especially in those located near bony structures.
Authors: S Dammert; T Krings; W Moller-Hartmann; E Ueffing; F J Hans; K Willmes; M Mull; A Thron Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2004-04-23 Impact factor: 2.804
Authors: H E Westerlaan; J Gravendeel; D Fiore; J D M Metzemaekers; R J M Groen; J J A Mooij; M Oudkerk Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2007-09-22 Impact factor: 2.804