The value of 64-slice CT angiography in diagnosing spinal vascular malformations

Abstract

Objective To evaluate 64-slice CT angiography in diagnosing spinal vascular malformations. Methods Fifteen patients,who were suggestive of spinal vascular malformations bv clinical manifestation and MRI,underwent CT angiography with a 64-slice spiral CT(GE lightspeed VCT).DSA were performed later within 1 week in all the patients and four of them were treated with operation as well.We evaluated CTA images in displaying the lesions according to the following aspects:the type of malformation,lesion range,feeding artery,draining vein and possible fistula.and compared those details with DSA and operation findings.Results All 15 patients acquired their final diagnosis by DSA and operation,which were intramedullary axteriovenous malformation in 6 cases,perimedullary arteriovenous fistula in 2,spinal dural arteriovenous fistula in 3 and Cobb syndrome in 4 cases. CTA was consistent with DSA in the classification of lesions and in the determination of the involved regions and it reveaIed the main feeding arteries and draining veins in all patients.CTA showed four arteriovenous fistulae confinned bv DSA.but it failed in a complex arteriovcnous fistula.In Cobb syndrome patients,not only the intramedullary but also paravertebral and subcutenous vascular malformation could be clearly seen on CTA images.Conclusion 64-slice CT angiography can be a preliminary method in spinal vascular malformation because it can determine the classification and reveal almost all the main lesions quickly,atraumatically. Key words: Central nervous system vascular malformations; Tomography,X-ray computed