Efficacy of 3-D reconstructed time of flight MRA follow-up of the embolized cerebral aneurysms

A follow-up of the embolized cerebral aneurysm with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDC) were performed mainly using craniograms and digital subtraction angiograms (DSA) so far Recently, several authors have reported about efficacy of the time of flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) as a follow-tip for the embolized cerebral aneurysms. In our institution, 3-D reconstructed TOF MRAs have been performed as a follow-up of the embolized cerebral aneurysms. We examined efficacy of 3-D reconstructed TOF MRA. 3-D TOF MRA was performed for a follow-up of the embolized cerebral aneurysms at our outpatient clinic in 35 patients. Morphological examination of the 3-D images between 3-D TOF MRA and 3-D DSA was performed. Almost similar images of 3-D MRA were obtained after 3-D reconstruction as compared with those of 3-D DSA. In three cases, recanalization was suspected in the 3-D TOF MRA. And recanalization was confirmed in the 3-D DSA actually. A quality of 3-D TOF MRA for a diagnosis of recanalization was good and practical. However, in two cases, arteries were partially disappeared in the 3-D TOF MRA. These were the artifact due to coil mass and this is a current limitation of 3-D TOF MRA. The images of 3-D TOF MRA that were reconstructed in the 3-D workstation were very similar to those of 3-D DSA. 3-D reconstructed TOF MRA was very useful for a less-invasive diagnosis of a recanalization of the embolized cerebral aneurysms.