OBJECT: Although conventional catheter angiography is commonly used in the evaluation of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), less invasive tools are more suitable for screening or follow-up. Older MR angiography techniques cannot provide high enough temporal and spatial resolution for assessing AVMs. Threetesla time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS)-a time-resolved, contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography technique-achieves subsecond time resolution without sacrificing spatial resolution. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of TRICKS at 3 T in the evaluation of AVMs. METHODS: Between November 2006 and November 2007, 31 patients who were known to have AVMs underwent evaluation in a 3-T unit with the TRICKS technique. The TRICKS images were then evaluated independently by 2 radiologists for nidus detection, early venous filling detection, and Spetzler-Martin classification, and these results were compared with the results of catheter angiography. RESULTS: Time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics achieved 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity both in nidus detection and early venous filling detection. The Spetzler-Martin grades also showed excellent correlation with catheter angiography findings (kappa= 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Although this is a preliminary study, the authors' results indicate that time-resolved contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography at 3 T is a good tool to assess AVMs, and has the potential to replace catheter angiography in screening or follow-up examinations of patients with AVMs.
OBJECT: Although conventional catheter angiography is commonly used in the evaluation of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), less invasive tools are more suitable for screening or follow-up. Older MR angiography techniques cannot provide high enough temporal and spatial resolution for assessing AVMs. Threetesla time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS)-a time-resolved, contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography technique-achieves subsecond time resolution without sacrificing spatial resolution. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of TRICKS at 3 T in the evaluation of AVMs. METHODS: Between November 2006 and November 2007, 31 patients who were known to have AVMs underwent evaluation in a 3-T unit with the TRICKS technique. The TRICKS images were then evaluated independently by 2 radiologists for nidus detection, early venous filling detection, and Spetzler-Martin classification, and these results were compared with the results of catheter angiography. RESULTS: Time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics achieved 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity both in nidus detection and early venous filling detection. The Spetzler-Martin grades also showed excellent correlation with catheter angiography findings (kappa= 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Although this is a preliminary study, the authors' results indicate that time-resolved contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography at 3 T is a good tool to assess AVMs, and has the potential to replace catheter angiography in screening or follow-up examinations of patients with AVMs.
Authors: D R Buis; J C J Bot; F Barkhof; D L Knol; F J Lagerwaard; B J Slotman; W P Vandertop; R van den Berg Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2011-11-17 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Luminita A Tudorica; Karen Y Oh; Nicole Roy; Mark D Kettler; Yiyi Chen; Stephanie L Hemmingson; Aneela Afzal; John W Grinstead; Gerhard Laub; Xin Li; Wei Huang Journal: Magn Reson Imaging Date: 2012-07-06 Impact factor: 2.546
Authors: Geoffroy C Sisk; Kanako K Kumamaru; Kurt Schultz; Ericka M Bueno; J Rodrigo Diaz-Siso; Elizabeth George; Marta M Redjaee; Dimitrios Mitsouras; Michael L Steigner; Bohdan Pomahac; Frank J Rybicki Journal: Eplasty Date: 2012-12-18