Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
High-resolution MR imaging has recently been introduced as a promising diagnostic modality in intracranial artery disease. Our aim was to compare high-resolution MR imaging with digital subtraction angiography for the characterization and diagnosis of various intracranial artery diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-seven patients who had undergone both high-resolution MR imaging and DSA for intracranial artery disease were enrolled in our study (August 2011 to April 2014). The time interval between the high-resolution MR imaging and DSA was within 1 month. The degree of stenosis and the minimal luminal diameter were independently measured by 2 observers in both DSA and high-resolution MR imaging, and the results were compared. Two observers independently diagnosed intracranial artery diseases on DSA and high-resolution MR imaging. The time interval between the diagnoses on DSA and high-resolution MR imaging was 2 weeks. Interobserver diagnostic agreement for each technique and intermodality diagnostic agreement for each observer were acquired.
RESULTS
High-resolution MR imaging showed moderate-to-excellent agreement (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.892–0.949; κ = 0.548–0.614) and significant correlations (R = 0.766–892) with DSA on the degree of stenosis and minimal luminal diameter. The interobserver diagnostic agreement was good for DSA (κ = 0.643) and excellent for high-resolution MR imaging (κ = 0.818). The intermodality diagnostic agreement was good (κ = 0.704) for observer 1 and moderate (κ = 0.579) for observer 2, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution MR imaging may be an imaging method comparable with DSA for the characterization and diagnosis of various intracranial artery diseases.
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Fellows’ Journal Club
Thirty-seven patients who had undergone both high-resolution MR imaging and DSA for intracranial artery disease were evaluated. The degree of stenosis and the minimal luminal diameter were independently measured by 2 observers on both DSA and high-resolution MR imaging, and the results were compared. The 2 observers independently diagnosed intracranial artery diseases on DSA and high-resolution MR imaging. High-resolution MR imaging showed moderate-to-excellent agreement and significant correlations with DSA on the degree of stenosis and minimal luminal diameter. The authors conclude that high-resolution MR imaging may be an imaging method comparable with DSA for the characterization and diagnosis of various intracranial artery diseases.