Contrast-Enhanced 3D MR Angiography of the Carotid Artery: Comparison with Conventional Digital Subtraction Angiography
Luca Remondaa,
Pascal Sennb,
Alain Barthb,
Marcel Arnoldc,
Karl-Olof Lövblada and
Gerhard Schrotha
a Department of Neuroradiology, University of Bern, Switzerland
b Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bern, Switzerland
c Department of Neurology, University of Bern, Switzerland
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FIG 1. Agreement between findings at DSA and those at MR angiography.
A, DSA image of the right carotid bifurcation shows a focal severe stenosis (arrow) of the internal carotid artery.
B, The 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiographic MIP image (magnification factor, 2) shows the focal severe stenosis (arrow), correlating well with the DSA image.
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FIG 2. Underestimation of stenoses.
A, DSA image of the left common carotid artery depicts a proximal moderate stenosis (straight arrow) and an extremely short distal stenosis (curved arrow) of the internal carotid artery.
B, 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiographic MIP image (magnification factor, 2) depicts the moderate proximal stenosis (straight arrow) and a short band of decreased enhancement (curved arrow) without clear definition of a stenosis.
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FIG 3. Carotid occlusions.
A and B, DSA images and, C and D, 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiographic MIP images (magnification factor, 1.5) of the left common carotid artery in the early (A and C) and delayed (B and D) phases demonstrate a stump (arrow) at the origin of the internal carotid artery and occlusion of the distal internal carotid artery.
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FIG 4. A and B, DSA images of the left common carotid artery demonstrate an extremely severe stenosis (arrow) at the origin f the internal carotid artery in the early phase (A), with collapse of the distal lumen ("string" sign [arrowheads]) in the delayed phase (B).
C and D, The 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiographic MIP images (1.5 magnification factor) demonstrate the extremely severe stenosis (arrow in C) at the origin of the internal carotid artery and opacification of the collapsed distal lumen in only the delayed phase (arrowheads in D).
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