USEFULNESS OF 2-DIMENSIONAL TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR-ANGIOGRAPHY COMBINED WITH SURFACE ANATOMY SCANNING ON CONVEXITY LESIONS

Thirty-eight patients with convexity lesions were studied prospectivel y with the two-dimensional time-of-flight (2D-TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) method. Of these 21 cases had additional surface ana tomy scanning (SAS) and 7 cases had three-dimensional phase contrast ( 3D-PC) MRA. The findings were compared during surgery, and the predict ability of 2D-TOF evaluated. 2D-TOF was obtained with 2 mm slice thick ness after the administration of contrast media for routine magnetic r esonance imaging (MRI). Cortical veins were visualized with a good res olution with a scan time of only 5 minutes. The tumor was also visible in the background, due to enhancement, and thus the tumor-vessels rel ation was shown. Slow-flow vessels were also adequately seen. SAS was done al the same sitting with fast spin echo (FSE) with a scan time of 3 minutes. Once both images were incorporated, information on gyri an d their relation to the lesions and vasculature could be obtained from a single image. We found 2D-TOF alone, or at times in combination wit h SAS, useful for planning of operation for convexity lesions.