Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on January 15, 2009
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1440

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: ajnr.A1440v1 30/4/845    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Watanabe, Y. Articles by Naito, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Watanabe, Y. Articles by Naito, H.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 30:845-850, April 2009
© 2009 American Society of Neuroradiology

INTERVENTIONAL

Identification of the Distal Dural Ring with Use of Fusion Images with 3D-MR Cisternography and MR Angiography: Application to Paraclinoid Aneurysms

Y. Watanabe^a,c, T. Nakazawa^a, N. Yamada^a, M. Higashi^a, T. Hishikawa^b, S. Miyamoto^b and H. Naito^a

^a Department of Radiology, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan
^b Department of Neurosurgery, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan
^c Department of Radiology, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

Please address correspondence to Yoshiyuki Watanabe, MD, PhD, 9-1 Akashi-cho Chuo-city, Tokyo, Japan 104-8560; e-mail: yowatana{at}luke.or.jp

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The distal dural ring (DDR) represents the anatomic border between the extradural and intradural internal carotid arteries (ICAs). The purpose of this study was to examine whether 3D-MR cisternography and MR angiography (MRA) fusion images can identify the boundary between the CSF and the cavernous sinus, which might represent the DDR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:Thirty-six consecutive patients with 39 ICA aneurysms were examined with use of MR fusion images with 3D-cisternography and MRA on a 1.5T unit. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the configuration of the carotid cave and the location of the aneurysms on fusion images and classified them as intradural, transdural, and extradural aneurysms.

RESULTS:The borderline between the CSF and the cavernous sinus was visualized on fusion images in all patients. The carotid cave configuration in 72 ICAs was classified as having no dent (n = 31), a shallow dent (n = 27), and a deep dent (n = 14). The MR fusion images led to the classification of 39 ICA aneurysms as 21 intradural, 6 transdural, and 12 extradural. The interobserver agreement of MR fusion images was excellent ( = 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS:Fusion images with 3D-cisternography and MRA yielded clear visualization of the boundary between the suprasellar cistern and cavernous sinus indicating the DDR. This imaging technique may provide additional information in consideration of a treatment option for paraclinoid aneurysms.