Craniocervical artery dissection: MR imaging and MR angiographic findings |
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Authors: | M Oelerich F Stögbauer G Kurlemann C Schul G Schuierer |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Münster, Germany, DE;(2) Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Münster, Germany, DE;(3) Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Münster, Germany, DE;(4) Department of Neurosurgery, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Münster, Germany, DE |
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Abstract: | Dissection of the carotid and vertebral arteries is a not so uncommon cause of stroke and has to be considered as a differential
diagnosis especially in younger patients. Therapeutic and prognostic implications are different from those in extracranial
atherosclerotic disease. Dissection results from hemorrhage into the vessel wall usually between the layers of the media.
Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) depicts the resulting luminal compromise that may reveal some typical, but not specific,
findings. The same is true for non-invasive angiographic techniques such as time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography
(MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA), which have shown accurate results compared with DSA. The main advantage of
these techniques is the direct visualization of the vessel wall confirming the intramural hematoma. This is achieved best
with MR imaging due to the high signal of blood degradation products on T1- and T2-weighted images. Therefore, MRI in combination
with MRA is presently the method of choice for initial diagnosis and follow-up of craniocervical artery dissection (CCAD).
In some questionable cases, CTA is a non-invasive alternative that is independent of flow phenomena.
Received: 4 May 1998; Revision received: 8 September 1998; Accepted: 10 November 1998 |
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Keywords: | : Carotid artery Vertebral artery Dissection MR imaging MR angiography |
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