Three-dimensional computed tomographic reformations of intracranial vascular lesions

Abstract

Intracranial vascular lesions may be evident on plain skull radiographs and can be confirmed by various radiological studies including cerebral angiography, radionuclide studies and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Cerebral angiography and contrast-enhanced CT are now the principal investigations for diagnosis of such lesions. Transaxial CT,while successfully demonstrating intracranial mass lesions, may be inadequate for outlining detailed vascular anatomy. Computer software enabling three-dimensional (3D) images to be produced from a series of conventional CT sections has been developed and successfully applied to examine the complex bony structures of the head and pelvis (Hemmy et al, 1983; Marsh & Vannier, 1983; Burk et al, 1985; Gillespie et al, 1987a, c). Three-dimensional imaging has been less successful when applied to specific intra- and extracranial soft tissues. Since vascular lesions enhance during intravenous contrast infusion and are then readily differentiated from surrounding brain, we have applied 3D imaging to a variety of vascular intracranial lesions.