Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging  2015;19(3):146-152

doi:10.13104/imri.2015.19.3.146

Associated Brain Parenchymal Abnormalities in Developmental Venous Anomalies: Evaluation with Susceptibility-weighted MR Imaging.

Hyeon Gyu RYU 1 ; Dae Seob CHOI ; Soo Bueum CHO ; Hwa Seon SHIN ; Ho Cheol CHOI ; Boseul JEONG ; Hyemin SEO ; Jae Min CHO

Affiliations

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Keywords

Cerebral developmental venous anomaly; Hemorrhage; MR; Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associated brain parenchymal abnormalities of developmental venous anomalies (DVA) with susceptibility-weighted image (SWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 2356 patients underwent brain MR examinations with contrast enhancement. We retrospectively reviewed their MR examinations and data were collected as per the following criteria: incidence, locations, and associated parenchymal signal abnormalities of DVAs on T2-weighted image, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and SWI. Contrast enhanced T1-weighted image was used to diagnose DVA. RESULTS: Of the 2356 patients examined, 57 DVAs were detected in 57 patients (2.4%); 47 (82.4%) were in either lobe of the supratentorial brain, 9 (15.7%) were in the cerebellum, and 1 (1.7%) was in the pons. Of the 57 DVAs identified, 20 (35.1%) had associated parenchymal abnormalities in the drainage area. Among the 20 DVAs which had associated parenchymal abnormalities, 13 showed hemorrhagic foci on SWI, and 7 demonstrated only increased parenchymal signal abnormalities on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. In 5 of the 13 patients (38.5%) who had hemorrhagic foci, the hemorrhagic lesions were demonstrated only on SWI. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of DVAs was 2.4%. Parenchymal abnormalities were associated with DVAs in 35.1% of the cases. On SWI, hemorrhage was detected in 22.8% of DVAs. Thus, we conclude that SWI might give a potential for understanding of the pathophysiology of parenchymal abnormalities in DVAs.