The purpose of this study was to determine the technical capacity and diagnostic accuracy
of 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in suspected cerebral vasculitis
in a retrospective analysis of MRA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 14
young patients with clinical and/or radiological suspicion of cerebral vasculitis.
A total of nine arteries was evaluated in each patient. Consensus review of DSA by
three observers was the reference standard. The sensitivity for detecting a stenosis
varied from 62% to 79% for MRA and from 76% to 94% for DSA, depending on the observer.
The specificity for detecting a stenosis varied from 83% to 87% for MRA and from 83%
to 97% for DSA. Using the criterion “more than two stenoses in at least two separate
vascular distributions” to consider the examination as being true positive, the false-positive
rates for MRA and DSA were comparable. MRA plays a role as the first angiographical
examination in the diagnostic work-up of suspected cerebral vasculitis. When more
than two stenoses in at least two separate vascular distributions are depicted on
MRA, DSA is not expected to add a significant diagnostic contribution in a patient
with suspected cerebral vasculitis. DSA remains necessary when MRA is normal or when
less than three stenoses are seen.
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Publication history
Published online: October 05, 2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Published by Elsevier Inc.
