[The selective arterial and venous MR angiography of intracranial arteriovenous malformations].

This study evaluates the usefulness of MR angiography (MRA) in analysing cerebral arterial blood supply and venous drainage in patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Selective MRA of the carotid, middle cerebral or vertebrobasilar territories was performed by means of presaturation of up to three of the brain-supplying arteries at the level of the middle or lower neck (angled presaturation slabs). Results obtained with selective, non-selective arterial, as well as venous MRA in 13 consecutive patients were compared with the findings at intraarterial angiography, the latter serving as the "gold standard". Sensitivity in identifying major feeding arteries was 100%. Determination of the absolute and relative AVM sizes at selective MRA corresponded with IAA. The mean difference was 17.6 and 3.9% respectively. Both display of superficial and deep venous drainage was provided by 2-dimensional venous MRA. The authors conclude that selective MRA of cerebral arteries as used here is a powerful non-invasive method to demonstrate blood supply by single feeding vessels in intracranial malformations. 2D venous MRA permits an accurate evaluation of the venous drainage pattern.