IDENTIFICATION OF THE FEEDING ARTERIES OF SPINAL VASCULAR-LESIONS VIAPHASE-CONTRAST MR-ANGIOGRAPHY WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL ACQUISITION AND PHASE DISPLAY

PURPOSE: To determine whether identification of the feeding arteries o f spinal vascular lesions with phase-contrast MR angiography benefits from the higher spatial resolution of three-dimensional (volume) acqui sitions and flow-direction information provided by the phase reconstru ction of two-dimensional acquisitions, METHODS: Fifteen patients with high- or low-flow spinal vascular lesions proved by spinal arteriograp hy underwent MR angiography with phase-contrast techniques. Arteriogra phic and MR angiographic studies were reviewed to identify the arteria l feeders of spinal vascular lesions. RESULTS: On modulus reconstructi ons of coronal 2-D or 3-D acquisitions, three of four arteries feeding high-flow lesions and three of 14 arteries feeding low-flow lesions w ere identified as hypertrophic vessels joining the parent intercostal or cervical arteries. Of 11 intradural veins draining dural arterioven ous fistulas, three were identified on coronal 2-D acquisitions and si x on coronal 3-D acquisitions as vessels that coursed from a neural fo ramen to a midline tangle of vessels. Phase reconstruction showed asce nding and descending flow patterns in two patients with intramedullary arteriovenous malformations, and diverging flow in perimedullary vein s draining a hemangioblastoma, In nine patients with dural arterioveno us fistulas, phase reconstruction provided information as to the level of the arterial feeders. Phase reconstruction in coronal plane acquis itions also provided evidence of centripetal flow. CONCLUSION: Three-d imensional acquisitions and phase display of 2-D acquisitions improved the visibility of arterial pedicles of spinal vascular lesions at pha se-contrast MR angiography.