The Clinical Usefulness and the Value of 3D CT Angiography using Spiral CT in Patients with Cerebral Aneurysms

Park, Se Hyuck; Lee, Kyu Ho; Oh, Sae Moon

Abstract

We evaluate the detection of cerebral aneurysms with 3-dimensional(3D) computed tomographic angiography(CTA) and compare the results with those of magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and conventional cerebral angiography(CCA). Ten patients with 12 cerebral aneurysms were studied with spiral CT in conjuction with CCA and MRA. All aneurysms(3-20mm in diameter) were seen in CTA, MRA and CCA except 1 aneurysm(3mm in diameter) in MRA. CTA demonstrated neck, shape, direction of the aneurysm, and adjacent vascular and bony structures well. Of 12 aneurysms, 4 were seen equally with CCA and MRA, 4 were seen better with CCA owing to flow-related or motion artifact in MRA, and 4 were seen better with MRA. CTA was considered to be superior to CCA and MRA in demonstrating calcification and thrombosis in the aneurysm. 3D CTA with spiral CT is a rapid non-invasive method of visualizing the cerebral aneurysms and is comparable with MRA in demonstrating the aneurysms. We think 3D CTA can be a screening tool for use in the patients with suspected cerebral aneurysms and will be of a value in surgical planning for patients with complex cerebral aneurysms, in demonstrating the anatomy o the aneurysms and surrounding structures.