THE ROLE OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY IN HEAD AND NECK-SURGERY

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a recently developed, noninvas ive vascular imaging technique. The authors of this investigation asse ssed the diagnostic value of MRA, along with its influence on therapeu tic decisions, in 11 patients with a variety of head and neck disorder s. In 5 patients, MRA diagnosed or ruled out an intrinsic vascular les ion. MRA was used to evaluate 5 of 8 patients with cancer for evidence of direct tumor involvement of vascular structures. Other uses of MRA included preoperative determination of tumor vascularity and delineat ion of anatomic relationships between normal vessels and head and neck pathology. Overall, MRA results guided management in 10 patients, and in some cases it determined the extent of surgical intervention. Beca use MRA is safer and more practical than traditional angiography, the authors recommend more frequent use of this imaging technique in the p ractice of head and neck surgery.