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ABSTRACT: Spinal arteriovenous shunts usually require digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for evaluation. We report a unique time-resolved spinal MR angiographic (TRSMRA) technique with a temporal resolution of 3-6 seconds and spatial resolution of approximately 1 mm(3) that has the potential to noninvasively detect, localize, and follow-up these cases.
Eleven patients with clinical presentation and/or MR findings suspicious for a spinal arteriovenous shunt were referred for TRSMRA. Patients subsequently underwent spinal DSA to confirm the presence or absence of a shunt or were followed clinically until an alternative diagnosis was found. TRSMRA was also used to predict the level of the shunt in the positive cases. In addition, 2 of these patients as well as a 12th patient referred to us posttreatment received a follow-up TRSMRA to assess treatment outcome.
Early venous shunting was identified by using TRSMRA in 6 cases. All 6 were confirmed to have an AV shunt on subsequent spinal DSA. The shunt level predicted by TRSMRA consistently correlated with DSA to within 1 vertebral level. In the 5 patients with a negative screening TRSMRA, DSA or clinical outcome confirmed the absence of an arteriovenous shunt in all of the cases. Posttreatment TRSMRA in 3 patients accurately assessed the success or failure of treatment.
Combining acceleration techniques to achieve high frame rate TRSMRA provides sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to identify, localize, and follow patients suspected of having a spinal arteriovenous shunt. Further study in a larger population is warranted to assess the accuracy of this technique.
American Journal of Neuroradiology 11/2007; 28(9):1806-10. · 2.93 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this work was to develop an MR imaging-compatible animal model of reversible embolic stroke. We hypothesize that real-time MR imaging of the brain can be performed during stroke thrombolysis and can provide real-time feedback and guidance on the success of thrombolysis.
Embolic strokes were induced in 5 adult dogs by the use of autologous blood clots, with a sixth dog serving as an experimental control. Serial MR anatomic and physiologic imaging was performed to track the evolution of the stroke. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and quantitative cerebral blood flow (qCBF) were compared in the normal and stroke regions. During and after the administration of a chemical thrombolytic agent, MR imaging was performed to assess the outcome of the treatment.
Strokes were successfully created in 5 animals. No ADC or qCBF changes were observed in the control animal. Both ADC and qCBF values were found to be significantly different in the region affected by the stroke. Restoration of flow was observed in 1 case.
We have successfully implemented an MR imaging-compatible canine model of reversible embolic stroke.
American Journal of Neuroradiology 10/2006; 27(8):1788-93. · 2.93 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A method is presented for high-temporal-resolution MR angiography (MRA) using a combination of undersampling strategies and a high-field (3T) scanner. Currently, the evaluation of cerebrovascular disorders involving arteriovenous shunting or retrograde flow is accomplished with conventional radiographic digital subtraction angiography, because of its high spatial and temporal resolutions. Multiphase MRA could potentially provide the same diagnostic information noninvasively, though this is technically challenging because of the inherent trade-off between signal intensity-to-noise ratio (S/N), spatial resolution, and temporal resolution in MR imaging.
Numerical simulations addressed the choice of imaging parameters at 3T to maximize S/N and the data acquisition rate while staying within specific absorption rate limits. The increase in S/N at 3T was verified in vivo. An imaging protocol was developed with S/N, spatial resolution, and temporal resolution suitable for intracranial angiography. Partial Fourier imaging, parallel imaging, and the time-resolved echo-shared acquisition technique (TREAT) were all used to achieve sufficient undersampling.
In 40 volunteers and 10 patients exhibiting arteriovenous malformations or fistulas, intracranial time-resolved contrast-enhanced MRA with high acceleration at high field produced diagnostic-quality images suitable for assessment of pathologies involving arteriovenous shunting or retrograde flow. The technique provided spatial resolution of 1.1 x 1.1 x 2.5 mm and temporal resolution of 2.5 seconds/frame. The combination of several acceleration methods, each with modest acceleration, can provide a high overall acceleration without the artifacts of any one technique becoming too pronounced.
By taking advantage of the increased S/N provided by 3T magnets over conventional 1.5T magnets and converting this additional S/N into higher temporal resolution through acceleration strategies, intracranial time-resolved MRA becomes feasible.
American Journal of Neuroradiology 05/2006; 27(4):822-9. · 2.93 Impact Factor
