3-DIMENSIONAL TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR-ANGIOGRAPHY AND MR-IMAGING VERSUS CONVENTIONAL ANGIOGRAPHY IN CAROTID-ARTERY DISSECTIONS

A retrospective analysis comparing the three-dimensional time-of-fligh t MR angiography MR imaging and transfemoral digital substraction angi ography (DSA) in cases of carotid artery dissection was made. During a 2-year period, 12 cases (11 males and 1 female), aged between 16 and 60 years, were submitted to our Hospital with the symptoms of TIA, str oke or cranial nerve palsies and the suspicion of carotid dissection. Transfemoral angiograms were done in other Institutions, while the MRI and MRA were performed in our diagnostic center. Blind interpretation of MR and angiographic images was made by two independent radiologist s. MR angiography in combination with MR imaging was more accurate tha n conventional angiography in the diagnosis of carotid artery dissecti on. Respective sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 100% for MRI with MRA and 91.6% and 100% for conventional angiography. From the ana lysis of this small series, we can conclude that MR angiography in com bination with MR imaging is a reliable noninvasive method for use in d iagnosis of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection.