Magnetic resonance angiography of vascular malformations

The rapid advancement of MR angiography techniques over the past few years has brought this imaging modality to the forefront in the diagnosis and management of vascular diseases of the central nervous system. The ability to acquire a three-dimensional dataset in a single acquisition and display these data using a number of different postprocessing techniques has made MR angiography especially useful in the evaluation of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) before radiosurgery. In many instances, MR angiography has replaced conventional angiography for the purpose of radiosurgery treatment planning and follow-up. As this technology continues to advance, it will undoubtedly play an even more important role in the management of vascular malformations in the future.