3D Contrast Enhancement-MR Angiography for Imaging of Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysms: A Hospital-Based Prevalence Study |
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Authors: | Jing Li Bixia Shen Chao Ma Li Liu Li Ren Yibin Fang Dongwei Dai Shiyue Chen Jianping Lu |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.; 2. Department of neurosurgery, Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Germany, |
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Abstract: | Background and PurposeContrast enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) can help to overcome the limitations of other techniques to clearly display the details of cerebral aneurysms at 1.5-T MR system. We investigated the prevalence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) using three dimensional (3D) CE-MRA in a tertiary comprehensive hospital in China.Materials and MethodsThe cases were prospectively recorded at our hospital between February 2009 and October 2010. 3D CE-MRA, interpreted by 2 observers blinded to the participants’ information, was used to identify the location and size of UCAs and to estimate the overall, age-specific, and sex-specific prevalence.ResultsOf the 3993 patients (men: women = 2159∶1834), 408 UCAs were found in 350 patients (men: women = 151∶199). The prevalence was 8.8% overall (95% CI, 8.0–10.0%), with 7.0% for men (CI, 6.0–8.0%) and 10.9% for women (CI, 9.0–12.0%). The overall prevalence of UCAs was higher in women than in men (P<0.001) and increased with age both in men and women. Prevalence peaked at age group 75–80 years. Forty-two patients (11.7%) had multiple aneurysms, including 10 (2.9%) male patients and 32 (9.1%) female patients. The most common site of aneurysm was the carotid siphon, and most lesions (71.3%) had a maximum diameter of 3−5 mm.ConclusionThis hospital-based prevalence study suggested a high prevalence (8.8%) of UCAs and most lesions (71.3%) had a maximum diameter of 3–5 mm observed by 3D CE-MRA. Because the rupture of small cerebral aneurysms was not uncommon, an appropriate follow-up care strategy must be formulated. |
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