Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography at 3 T compared to digital subtraction angiography in the follow-up of ruptured and coiled intracranial aneurysms: a prospective study

Abstract

3-D TOF-MRA at 3 T is not only an adjunctive tool but is ready to replace DSA in the follow-up of patients with previously coiled intracranial aneurysms. Additional DSA may only be performed in complex and not clearly laid out aneurysms.

No advantage of time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography at 3 Tesla compared to 1.5 Tesla in the follow-up after endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms

“…Our results support the conclusions of Urbach et al regarding the possibility of only performing DSA if changes in aneurysm configuration are observed at follow-up TOF-MRA [5].…”

“…Therefore, in search of an aneurysm recurrence after endovascular treatment, the most sensitive and least invasive imaging should be performed. It has been shown that TOF-MRA is a sensitive and safe technique regarding coiled aneurysms; some authors have concluded that it may be even more sensitive than DSA [5,9,[17][18][19][20][21]. Others recommend CE-MRA or contrastenhanced TOF-MRA to raise sensitivity regarding residual filling and to minimize stent-related artifacts [6,7,9,22,23].…”

“…However, recanalization of a cerebral aneurysm treated with endovascular coil embolization occurs in up to 30% of all patients and carries a small risk of rebleeding [1][2][3][4][5]. Most neurointerventional centers therefore currently perform a post-interventional follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA) after 6 months.…”

Follow-Up of Coiled Intracranial Aneurysms: Comparison of 3D Time-of-Flight MR Angiography at 3T and 1.5T in a Large Prospective Series

“…[5][6][7] Both 3D TOF-MRA and CE-MRA have also been evaluated at 3T, also showing good diagnostic performance. [7][8][9][10] Direct comparison of MRA performed at 3T and 1.5T is relatively scarce, has been conducted in small series of patients, and is associated with contradictory results. [11][12][13] To compare the value of 3D-TOF at 1.5T and 3T, a prospective consecutive monocentric study was conducted in patients having follow-up examinations including DSA for coiled intracranial aneurysms.…”

3D Computerized Occlusion Rating of Embolized Experimental Aneurysms Using Noninvasive 1.5T MR Imaging

“…In fact, noninvasive 3D MR imaging is increasingly replacing invasive DSA in the clinical follow-up of embolized cerebral aneurysms. 8,9 Even for experimental rabbit aneurysms, the feasibility and excellent accuracy of noninvasive 3D MR imaging have been shown. [10][11][12] The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of 3D-COR by using noninvasive 1.5T MR imaging in comparison with the present standard of 2D DSA in experimental endovascular aneurysms embolized by stent placement and/or coiling.…”