Predictive Value of MRI in Diagnosing Brain AVM Recurrence after Angiographically Documented Exclusion in Children

摘要

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MRI is routinely performed following brain AVM after treatment in children. Our aim was to determine the predictive values of contrast-enhanced MR imaging and TOF-MRA for brain AVM recurrence in children, compared with conventional angiography and the role of 3D rotational angiography-MR imaging fusion in these cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included all pediatric patients with brain AVMs during an 18-year period with angiographically documented obliteration after treatment. Patients underwent 3T MR imaging, including contrast-enhanced MR imaging, TOF-MRA, and conventional angiography, with a subset undergoing 3D rotational angiography. The predictive values of contrast-enhanced MR imaging and TOF-MRA for brain AVM recurrence were determined. CTA sections reconstructed from 3D rotational angiography were coregistered with and fused to 3D-T1WI for analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-nine children (10.8 +/- 3.9 years of age; range, 2-17 years; male/female ratio, 19:20; mean Spetzler-Martin grade, 1.9 +/- 0.6) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 13 had angiographically confirmed brain AVM recurrence, 8 following surgery and 5 following embolization. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for recurrence were the following: contrast-enhanced MR imaging: 84.6%, 38.5%, 40.7%, 81.8%; TOF-MRA: 50.0%, 96.1%, 85.7%, 79.3%; both: 75.0%, 90.9%, 85.7%, 83.3%. 3D rotational angiography-MR imaging fused images confirmed or excluded recurrence in all available cases (13/13). Embolization-only treatment was a significant predictor of recurrence (OR = 32.4, P = .006). MR imaging features predictive of recurrence included a tuft of vessels on TOF-MRA and nodular juxtamural/linear enhancement with a draining vein on contrast-enhanced MR imaging. CONCLUSIONS: MR imaging is useful for surveillance after brain AVM treatment in children, but conventional angiography is required for definitive diagnosis of recurrence. TOF-MRA and contrast-enhanced MR imaging provide complementary information for determining brain AVM recurrence and should be interpreted in conjunction. 3D rotational angiography-MR imaging fusion increases the diagnostic confidence regarding brain AVM recurrence and is therefore suited for intraoperative neuronavigation.