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Diagnostic value of cerebral perfusion scintigraphy in evaluation of intracranial arteriovenous malformations - preliminary report
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Abstract
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nineteen patients were examined. All the patients had been previously diagnosed with AVM and qualified for intravascular embolization. Brain scintigraphy was performed with 99mTc-ECD and included dynamic phase and SPECT imaging. The regional blood flow was evaluated visually and semi quantitatively, based on comparison between the activity in the two symmetrical regions of interest. Differences higher than 10% were considered significant. Cerebral angiography combined with intravascular embolization was carried out after a scitigraphic examination.
RESULTS: Based on angiograms, the diameter of the AVM nidus was estimated and varied from 1.0 cm to 9.0 cm. In 13 cases, AVM were visible in the dynamic scintigraphy as areas of increased tracer activity. In each case, SPECT images showed the AVM nidus as a region of decreased tracer accumulation. Hypoperfusion in the brain tissue adjacent to the nidus was seen in 15 subjects. In one patient cerebellar diaschisis was present. The average ratio of activity in the region of AVM to activity in the normally perfused tissue calculated by semiquantitative analysis was 77.5 ± 10.9%.
CONCLUSION: Cerebral perfusion scintigraphy (SPECT images and dynamic scintigraphy) allows one to identify perfusion disturbances caused by the presence of intracranial AVM.
Abstract
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nineteen patients were examined. All the patients had been previously diagnosed with AVM and qualified for intravascular embolization. Brain scintigraphy was performed with 99mTc-ECD and included dynamic phase and SPECT imaging. The regional blood flow was evaluated visually and semi quantitatively, based on comparison between the activity in the two symmetrical regions of interest. Differences higher than 10% were considered significant. Cerebral angiography combined with intravascular embolization was carried out after a scitigraphic examination.
RESULTS: Based on angiograms, the diameter of the AVM nidus was estimated and varied from 1.0 cm to 9.0 cm. In 13 cases, AVM were visible in the dynamic scintigraphy as areas of increased tracer activity. In each case, SPECT images showed the AVM nidus as a region of decreased tracer accumulation. Hypoperfusion in the brain tissue adjacent to the nidus was seen in 15 subjects. In one patient cerebellar diaschisis was present. The average ratio of activity in the region of AVM to activity in the normally perfused tissue calculated by semiquantitative analysis was 77.5 ± 10.9%.
CONCLUSION: Cerebral perfusion scintigraphy (SPECT images and dynamic scintigraphy) allows one to identify perfusion disturbances caused by the presence of intracranial AVM.
Keywords
cerebral arteriovenous malformations; cerebral perfusion scintigraphy; SPECT; angiography
Title
Diagnostic value of cerebral perfusion scintigraphy in evaluation of intracranial arteriovenous malformations - preliminary report
Journal
Issue
Article type
Brief communication
Pages
43-48
Published online
2004-01-22
Page views
561
Article views/downloads
1400
Bibliographic record
Nucl. Med. Rev 2004;7(1):43-48.
Keywords
cerebral arteriovenous malformations
cerebral perfusion scintigraphy
SPECT
angiography
Authors
Anna Nocuń
Maciej Szajner
Krzysztof Gil
Janina Zaorska-Rajca