Detection and characterization of intracranial aneurysms: magnetic resonance angiography versus digital subtraction angiography.

OBJECTIVE To compare magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with Intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA) in detection and characterization of intracranial aneurysms. STUDY DESIGN Comparative cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, from January to June 2007. METHODOLOGY Thirty patients presented with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and focal neurological signs were selected by convenience sampling. Three dimensional time of flight (3D TOF) MRA using maximum intensity projection (MIP) was performed on all patients along with DSA. Results of 3D TOF MRA were compared with those of IA-DSA taking IA-DSA as Gold standard. RESULTS Out of 30 patients 14 (46.7%) were males and 16 (53.3%) were females with mean age of 41±14.1 years. MRA detected 29 out of 30 aneurysmal lesions with sensitivity of 96.7%. Regarding characterization of aneurysms results of MRA were comparable to those of IA-DSA. CONCLUSION 3D TOF MRA technique showed a high sensitivity in this study. This technique can be used as a non-invasive screening test for intracranial aneurysms and as a suitable alternative primary examination to IA-DSA prior to aneurysmal surgery.