F. Ikawa et al., DIAGNOSIS OF CAROTID-CAVERNOUS FISTULAS WITH MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY - DEMONSTRATING THE DRAINING VEINS UTILIZING 3-D TIME-OF-FLIGHTAND 3-D PHASE-CONTRAST TECHNIQUES, Neurosurgical review, 19(1), 1996, pp. 7-12
This study assessed the ability to diagnose carotid-cavernous fistulas
(CCFs) non-invasively using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Bot
h three-dimensional time-of-night (3-D TOF) MRA and three-dimensional
phase-contrast (3-D PC) MRA were compared with conventional cerebral a
ngiography in nine patients with CCFs. CCFs were grouped according to
Barrow's classification. In all cases, 3-D TOF MRA revealed an inferio
r petrosal sinus as a draining vein. 3-D PC MRA demonstrated a dilated
and tortuous superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) and reflux of the SOV in
seven patients. In conclusion, CCFs can be diagnosed with MRA alone by
demonstrating the drainging veins.