J Korean Radiol Soc.  2003 Nov;49(5):387-392. 10.3348/jkrs.2003.49.5.387.

Turnover in Intracranial Aneurysm Phantoms: Its Relation to Neck Size

• Chung TS
• Lee YJ
• Rhim YC

• KMID: 2302555
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2003.49.5.387

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the physiologic background of aneurysms poorly visualized during 3D-TOF MRA, contrast-enhanced MRA (CEMRA) and DSA due to hemodynamic isolation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using handmade elastic silicon phantoms to represent terminal basilar tip aneurysms, 3D-TOF MRA, CEMRA and DSA were used to determine blood turnover. Aneurysmal neck size was 2 mm and 10 mm, and the use of a pulsatile pump also helped recreate human physiologic parameters. We compared the results with those of computational fluid dynamics.
RESULTS
DSA images of the narrow-necked aneurysm showed that a small volume of contrast medium washed into it during the systolic phase. As the width of its neck increased, the turnover volume of fragments of contrast bolus also increased. At CEMRA, the broad-necked aneurysm was visualized as the main bolus of Gd-DT PA passed through it, and at delayed CEMRA, the narrow-necked aneurysm was visualized faintly after the passage of bolus Gd-DT PA. The results correlated closely with those of 3DTOF MRA and computational fluid dynamics.
CONCLUSION
The visualization of intracranial aneurysms at 3D-TOF MRA, CEMRA and DSA was greatly dependent upon blood turnover, which varied according to aneurismal neck size. A narrow-necked aneurysm might be missed at 3D-TOF MRA, CEMRA and DSA due to hemodynamic isolation.

Keyword

Aneurysm, cerebral; Magnetic resonance (MR), vascular studies; Magnetic resonance (MR), experimental; Digital subtraction angiography

MeSH Terms

Aneurysm
Angiography, Digital Subtraction
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hydrodynamics
Intracranial Aneurysm*
Neck*
Silicones
Silicones