Dual-energy CT angiography for the diagnosis of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula

摘要

Purpose: To investigate the clinical utility of dual-source dual-energy CT angiography (DSDECTA) for diagnosing intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF). Methods: Nine intracranial DAVF patients were examined using Siemens DSDECTA and cerebral digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Imaging data were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the concordance between the imaging modalities. Results: DSDECTA examination showed that the blood-supplying arteries were thickened and the draining veins and dural sinuses were expanded in all 9 patients. The presence and characteristics of intracranial DAVF were confirmed using DSA. Head CT showed subarachnoid hemorrhage in 4 cases and intracerebral hematoma in 3 cases. Conclusion: Although DSA is the gold standard for DAVF diagnosis, DSDECTA is less invasive and more suitable for revealing the three-dimensional structure of secondary intracranial lesions as well as other DAVF characteristics. Thus, DSDECTA may be a new alternative for noninvasive screening of suspected DAVF patients before interventional embolization and surgical resection.