MAGNETIC-RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY OF SUPRATENTORIAL TUMORS - COMPARISON WITH SELECTIVE DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY

We compared magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and intra-arterial di gital subtraction angiography (IADSA) in the study of brain tumours an d assessed the utility of gadolinium-enhanced MRA. We studied 17 patie nts with supratentorial brain tumors. The entire brain was imaged with multiple overlapping thin volume acquisitions. After IV injection of gadolinium-DTPA, a single thick-slab MRA acquisition was performed. St andard three-dimensional (3D-TOF) acquisitions (in six patients) and 3 D-TOF with magnetization transfer prepulse and tilted optimisation non saturing radiofrequency excitation pulses (in 11 patients) were used. Displacement of the anterior cerebral artery, main stem and insular br anches of the middle cerebral artery was seen well on unenhanced and c ontrast-enhanced MRA. Displacement of the lenticulostriate and anterio r choroidal arteries was seen only once, after Gadolinium. Tumour enca sement of the middle cerebral artery was demonstrated in one patient. Tumour vessels were seen in 2 of 8 cases before and 3 of 8 after gadol inium; Tumour hypervascularity was seen only after gadolinium, in 3 of 8 cases. Study of the veins was possible only on gadolinium-enhanced MRA. Displacement of the venous angle was seen in 4 of 7 patients in t he frontal, and in all of 8 patients on the lateral projections. Early venous drainage was not seen. Patency of the dural Venous sinuses was demonstrated in all patients, but in one neoplastic occlusion of a co rtical vein was recognised.