Document Detail


Noninvasive detection of vertebral artery stenosis: a comparison of contrast-enhanced MR angiography, CT angiography, and ultrasound.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19762707     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebral stenosis is associated with a high risk of recurrent stroke, but noninvasive imaging techniques to identify it have lacked sensitivity. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography and CT angiography have been recently developed and appear to have better sensitivity. However, no prospective studies have compared both of these techniques with ultrasound against the gold standard of intra-arterial angiography in the same group of patients. METHODS: Forty-six patients were prospectively recruited in whom intra-arterial angiography was being performed. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography, CT angiography, and duplex ultrasound were also performed. Angiographic images were analyzed blinded to patient identity by 2 experienced neuroradiologists. RESULTS: Contrast-enhanced MR angiography had the highest sensitivity and specificity (Radiologist 1, 0.83 and 0.91, respectively; Radiologist 2, 0.89 and 0.87) for detecting >or=50% stenosis. CT angiography had good sensitivity (Radiologist 1, 0.68; Radiologist 2, 0.58) and excellent specificity (Radiologist 1, 0.92; Radiologist 2, 0.93), whereas duplex had low sensitivity (0.44) but excellent specificity (0.95). For vertebral origin stenosis >or=50%, sensitivities were similar for contrast-enhanced MR angiography (Radiologist 1, 0.91; Radiologist 2, 0.82) but relatively higher for CT angiography (Radiologist 1, 0.82; Radiologist 2, 0.82) and duplex (0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced MR angiography is the most sensitive noninvasive technique to detect vertebral artery stenosis and also has high specificity. CT angiography has good sensitivity and high specificity. In contrast, ultrasound has low sensitivity and will miss many vertebral stenoses.
Authors:
Sofia Khan; Philip Rich; Andrew Clifton; Hugh S Markus
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-09-17
Journal Detail:
Title:  Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation     Volume:  40     ISSN:  1524-4628     ISO Abbreviation:  Stroke     Publication Date:  2009 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-10-27     Completed Date:  2009-11-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0235266     Medline TA:  Stroke     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  3499-503     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Clinical Neuroscience, St George's University of London, London, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Angiography / standards
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Angiography / standards*
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / standards*
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex / standards*
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / diagnosis,  radiography*,  ultrasonography*

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