Table 3:

Possible causes for disagreement between TOF MRA and DSA in 16 patients

LocationN (%)Size (mean, mm)Overestimation (Size)Underestimation (Size)
ICA40 (21.3)10.4Vessel overlap (9 mm)Pulsation-induced artifacts (10 mm)
AcomA65 (34.6)5.7Vessel overlap (8 mm)Susceptibility at bone/air interface (2.5 mm)
Vessel overlap and small size (2 mm, 3 mm)
Partially thrombosed aneurysm (10 mm)
Pulsation-induced artifacts (2 mm, 12 mm)
ACA7 (3.7)9.1
MCA26 (13.8)7.1Vessel overlap (11 mm)
BA23 (12.2)7.6Pulsation-induced artifacts (10 mm)Slow flow and small size (2 mm)
Saturation effects and small size (3 mm)
PcomA23 (12.2)7.3Vessel overlap (10 mm)
Signal void due to slow flow (5 mm)
Susceptibility at bone/air interface (3 mm)
PICA3 (1.7)6.7
VA1 (0.5)4.0
Total188 (100)7.5
  • Note:—MRA indicates magnetic resonance angiography; DSA, digital subtraction angiography; ICA, internal carotid artery; AcomA, anterior communicating artery; ACA, anterior cerebral artery; MCA, middle cerebral artery; BA, basilar artery; PcomA, posterior communicating artery; PICA, posterior inferior cerebellar artery; VA, vertebral artery.