MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANEURYSMAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE - A STUDY OF 51 CASES

We report preliminary experience with the use of magnetic resonance an giography (MRA) in the assessment of intracranial aneurysms. The aims of the study were to confirm that aneurysms could be detected and to a ssess the quality of the images with a view to early surgery if clinic ally indicated. We studied 51 patients with recent spontaneous subarac hnoid haemorrhage with MRA, using a three-dimensional time-of-flight t echnique. The results of MRA were subsequently confirmed on intra-arte rial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) for anatomical correlati on, and were considered satisfactory in 38 patients (74.5 %). In 20 pa tients early surgical obliteration of their aneurysm was possible on t he MRA results without recourse to IA-DSA. A total of 37 aneurysms wer e identified in 32 patients, while the remaining 6 patients did not ha ve an aneurysm. MRA was misinterpreted in 4 patients (7.9 %), and in 9 other patients (17.6 %) MRA was un satisfactory due to movement artef acts.