The role of time-resolved 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography in the assessment and grading of cerebral arteriovenous malformations

Abstract

Purpose To assess the role of three-dimensional (3D) contrast-enhanced, time-resolved MR angiography (CE TR MRA) in patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Methods We studied 12 patient with intracranial AVMs on a 3.0 T MR imaging system (Magentom TIM Trio, Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) using 3D CE TR MRA with autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions and echo sharing schemes, which provided temporal resolution of 0.58 or 1.7 s and near isotropic voxels. We qualitatively assessed image quality of the 3D CE TR MRA and compared the grading of the AVMs based on modified Spetzler–Martin system for 3D CE TR MRA and catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Results CE TR MRA provided good quality images in the 3 standard orthogonal planes, and good arterial-venous separation in all cases. All AVMs were correctly graded by CE TR MRA when compared with DSA. 3D CE TR MRA provides a non-invasive alternative to DSA for the evaluation of cerebral AVMs.