Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI in therapeutic neurointerventional procedures

We describe three patients in whom we used MRI. including diffusion- and pe rfusion-weighted imaging (DWI, PWI) in conjunction with endovascular therap y. Two had intracranial aneurysms and one an arteriovenous malformation (AV M). The aneurysms were treated by coil embolisation or detachable balloons for proximal artery occlusion; the AVM was obliterated by intranidal glue i njection. All patients had transient or permanent neurological deficits aft er treatment. The MRI techniques and interventional procedures are describe d and the DWI and PWI patterns found are correlated with the clinical featu res. We discuss how the information gained from MRI may increase our unders tanding of procedure-related complications and its potential impact on our therapeutic interventions, in order to prevent or limit the clinical conseq uences of such events.