Application of 16-slice spiral CT angiography in diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm

Objective To discuss the clinical diagnostic value of 16-slice spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) for intracranial aneurysm. Methods Seventy-four patients with suspected intracranial aneurysm were examined with 16-slice spiral CTA. The post-processing techniques including multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), curved planar reformation (CPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), volume rendering (VR) and virtual endoscopy (VE) were used, and their diagnostic accuracy was evaluated and compared with the results of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and operation. Results A total of 77 aneurysms were detected by 16-slice spiral CTA in 65 patients. Among them, 55 patients had single aneurysm, 9 patients had double aneurysms, and only 1 patient had 4 aneurysms. The smallest diameters of aneurysm were 2.0 and 1.5 mm, and the largest were 49 and 8.5 mm at body and neck, respectively. The coincidence of aneurysms confirmed by operation and those detected by 16-slice spiral CTA was 94.74%. There were no significant difference in the sensitivity and the accordance rate of diagnosis between DSA and 16-slice spiral CTA (P>0.05). Conclusions 16-slice spiral CTA clearly showed the location, axis pointing, neck, parent artery ofa aneurysm, as well as the spatial relationship with the surrounding structures. The accuracy of 16-slice spiral CTA is higherin the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm. It can be used as the first and effective choice for diagnosis of acute intracranial aneurysm. Key words: Tomography;  X-ray computed;  Angiography;  Intracranial aneurysm