Objectives: Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) to diagnose intracranial aneurysms in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been well documented and widely accepted. In this study, it was assessed whether aneurysm surgery can be performed in aneurysm patients by using CTA regardless of their status.
Methods: To assess the clinical value of CTA, we treated patients with SAH using it as the primary means of diagnosis. During the period between August 2001 and May 2003, a consecutive series of 82 cases of ruptured cerebral aneurysms were evaluated via both CTA and postoperative transfemoral cerebral angiography(TFCA), and we investigated the detectability of cerebral aneurysms. In cases of vague CTA findings, we performed TFCA preoperatively. We correlated the CTA results with operative findings and preoperative TFCA, when performed.
Results: In 82 patients, 100 aneurysms (96 aneurysms via CTA, 1 aneurysm via TFCA, 3 aneurysms via operation) were disclosed. The size of aneurysms detected by CTA ranged from 1.95 mm to 19.4 mm. Aneurysms that were not found via TFCA were detected by CTA in two patients. Three additional small multiple aneurysms that could not be confirmed via CTA were found through operation. No previously undiscovered aneurysms were found via postoperative TFCA. Corresponding to the operative findings, the sensitivity of CTA was 96%.
Conclusion: According to our results, we hold that CTA is the first choice among diagnostic methods for the treatment of SAH.
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