3-T contrast-enhanced MR angiography with parallel imaging in cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis

• Published in: Journal of neuroradiology 2011-12, Vol.38 (5), p.275-282
• Main Authors: Lettau, M, Laible, M, Barrows, R.J, Heiland, S, Bendszus, M, Hähnel, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-T; Adult; Aged; Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis; Contrast Media; Contrast-enhanced MR venography; Female; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Intracranial Thrombosis - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Male; Middle Aged; MP-RAGE sequences; Parallel imaging; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial - pathology; TOF MR venography; Venous Thrombosis - pathology
• ISSN: 0150-9861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2011.01.002

Summary Background and purpose Contrast-enhanced (CE) 3D magnetic resonance venography (MRV) and CE 3D magnetization prepared rapid acquisition of gradient echo (MP-RAGE) sequences are increasingly commonly used methods for evaluation of the intracranial venous system. Our aim was to compare CE MRV, 2D time-of-flight (TOF) MRV and MP-RAGE sequences at 3 T for visualization of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis. Material and methods Patients with suspected or known cerebral venous thrombosis were examined prospectively by TOF MRV, CE MRV and MP-RAGE sequences. In 11 consecutive patients (all women; mean age, 42.5 years; age range, 25–70 years) with venous thrombosis, scores according to overall image quality, and presence or absence (score P ) and differentiation (score D) of venous thrombosis were evaluated. Results By all measurements, overall image quality ranged from good to excellent. In 20 of 52 venous structures (38.5%), score P was the same on TOF MRV, CE MRV and MP-RAGE sequences. Venous thrombosis was definitely or almost definitely present or absent with TOF MRV in 20 of 52 (38.5%), with CE MRV in 97 of 99 (97.9%) and with MP-RAGE sequences in 86 of 99 (86.9%) venous structures. In all venous structures with uncertain diagnosis on TOF MRV, thrombosis was definitely or almost definitely present or absent on CE MRV and MP-RAGE sequences. Differentiation of thrombosis was better on CE MRV (score D: 3.33) than on MP-RAGE sequences (score D: 2.78), followed by TOF MRV (score D: 1.32). Conclusion CE MRV was superior to TOF MRV and MP-RAGE sequences in visualizing cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis.