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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on February 12, 2009
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1395

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 30:487-491, March 2009
© 2009 American Society of Neuroradiology

INTERVENTIONAL

Efficacy of DynaCT Digital Angiography in the Detection of the Fistulous Point of Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas

T. Hiu^a, N. Kitagawa^a, M. Morikawa^b, K. Hayashi^a, N. Horie^a, Y. Morofuji^a, K. Suyama^a and I. Nagata^a

^a Department of Neurosurgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
^b Department of Radiology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan

Please address correspondence to Takeshi Hiu, MD, Department of Neurosurgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan; e-mail: thiu-nagasaki{at}umin.ac.jp

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Identifying the precise hemodynamic features, including the fistulous point, is essential for treatments of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). This study illustrates the efficacy of DynaCT digital angiograms obtained from a 3D C-arm CT to directly visualize the location of the fistulous points in DAVFs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study observed 14 consecutive patients with DAVFs, which included 7 cavernous sinuses, 4 transverse-sigmoid sinuses, 2 convexity-superior sagittal sinuses, and 1 tentorial sinus. In the assessment of the practical applicability for the diagnosis of DAVFs, images obtained from 2D digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and DynaCT were comparatively evaluated.

RESULTS: In all patients, DynaCT digital angiography could clearly demonstrate the feeding arteries, the fistulous points, and the draining veins. Significant anatomic landmarks for the fistulous points with relationships to osseous structures were also provided. Compared with 2D DSA, DynaCT digital angiograms demonstrated 12 additional findings in 8 patients (57%), including the detection of the fistulous points (n = 7), the feeders (n = 1), the retrograde leptomeningeal drainage (n = 1), the draining veins (n = 1), and the venous anomaly (n = 2).

CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with 2D DSA, DynaCT may provide more detailed information to evaluate DAVFs. DynaCT digital angiograms have a high contrast and isotropic spatial resolution, allowing a reliable visualization of small vessels and fine osseous structures. Such detailed information, especially for the location of the fistulous points, could be very useful for either the endovascular or the surgical treatments of DAVFs.