In 10 cases with intracranial arterivenous malformations(AVMs) diagnosed by MR spin echo images, MR angiography was evaluated and compared with conventional angiography for the ability of depiction of nidus, arterial feeders, and draining veins.
Spin echo images demonstrated the nidus of the AVM in all cases, but it was difficult to determine feeding vessels. These vessels were directly visualized with 3 dimensional STAGE(small tip angle gradient echo)MR angiography using
rephasing/dephasing
pulse sequences. In 5 cases MR angiography and conventional angiography showed the same results, however, in the others MR angiography showed lower resolution than conventional angiogrpahy.
MR angiography is useful to preangiographic evaluation of intracranial AVM, however, imaging resolution is dependent of MR imager hardware and pulse sequence design.
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