CONTRIBUTION OF MR-ANGIOGRAPHY TO THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE THERAPEUTIC INDICATION AND FOLLOW-UP OF INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate MR-Angiography (MRA) in comp arison with digital angiography in the diagnosis, therapeutic indicati on and therapeutic follow-up of cerebral aneurysms. Out of 27 patients explored by angiography and MRA, 17 had an aneurysm, 5 had an aneurys m excluded by a detachable balloon, and 5 without aneurysm were used a s controls. MRA, performed by the paradoxical enhancement technique, r equired a 3 DFT acquisition with short TR and TE (40 - 8ms) in gradien t echo, with a 15-degrees flip angle. Analysis of angiograms and parti tions was compared with that of angiography. Sixteen of the 17 aneurys ms were found by a study of both angiograms and partitions. The result was doubtful in 1 patient. No false-negative result was recorded. Spa sm was always detected, but the neck of the aneurysm was never suffici ently well defined. The quality of angiogram depends on the type of ba lloon used in the patients treated: only the balloon without metallic index did not induce an artefact. Thus, MRA seems to be useful in the detection of cerebral aneurysms, and the absence of artefact induced b y detachable balloons without metallic index could allow a therapeutic follow-up. But for the moment, arteriography remains the reference fo r pretherapeutic evaluation.