Comparison of magnetic resonance angiography, magnetic resonance imaging and conventional angiography in cerebral arteriovenous malformation.

10 patients with an AVM of the brain were examined by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and conventional cerebral angiography (CCA). From MRA in 7/10 patients important information about vascular supply could be provided; in 3 patients, all with small AVM's it could be only suspected. CCA revealed the vascularisation of the AVM's in all patients and showed additional hemodynamic aspects better than MRA. With MRI in all cases the AVM could be diagnosed, but only the involvement of the main cerebral vessels could be demonstrated: however, MRI is superior to MRA and CCA in showing the nidus and the involved brain structures.