MR angiography of the intracranial venous system

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of different imaging planes at time-o f-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and phase-contrast MR an giography in the visualization of the normal intracranial venous system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 12 healthy volunteers, two-dimensional (2D) TOF M R angiography and three-dimensional (3D) phase-contrast MR angiography were performed in transverse, sagittal, and coronal planes. All data were displ ayed as maximum intensity projection (MIP) images. Four neuroradiologists a ssessed the visibility of 28 intracranial venous structures on the MIP imag es. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Friedman two-way analys is of variance and the Cochran Q test. RESULTS: Visualization of the normal intracranial venous system was better with 3D phase-contrast and coronal 2D TOF MR angiography than with transver se or sagittal 2D TOF MR angiography (P < .05, Friedman test) for each obse rver and the group of observers. Differences were found between each of the 2D TOF and 3D phase-contrast MR angiographic sequences in the visualizatio n of individual venous structures (Cochran Q test). The kappa values ranged from 0.36 to 0.71, which indicated a moderate to good agreement between ob servers. CONCLUSION: The normal intracranial venous system is adequately visualized with 3D phase-contrast and coronal 2D TOF MR angiography.