Clinical value of CT spinal angiography in diagnosing spinal arteriovenous fistula with 256-detector row spiral CT
CAO Ji-bin1, GAO Si-jia1, HAN Peng1, CUI Ling-ling1, WANG Tao1, ZHU Yu-sen1, LI Yan-yan2
1. Department of Radiology, the First Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China; 2. Department of Radiology, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China
Abstract：Objective: To explore the clinical value of CT spinal angiography with 256-detector row spiral CT in diagnosing spinal arteriovenous fistula. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with initial MR and clinical manifestations suggestive of spinal vascular diseases underwent CT spinal angiography. Among them, 11 patients took DSA examination within 3 to 5 days after CT scan, and 8 patients underwent surgical treatment. Results: Seven cases of 13 patients were diagnosed as dural arteriovenous fistula(SDAVF) and 6 cases were spinal cord perimedullary arteriovenous fistula(SPMAVF), which were consistent with the diagnosis of DSA or surgery. All the 13 patients showed the abnormality of spinal cord vessels and the range of lesions clearly by CT spinal angiography. In the 7 cases of SDAVF, CTA displayed 5 feeding vessels and level of fistula opening in 6 cases, which were consistent with the DSA or surgery. One case was negative in DSA; In 6 cases with SPMAVF, CTA displayed 3 feeding vessels and level of fistula opening in 5 cases, which were consistent with the DSA or surgery. Conclusion: CT spinal angiography with 256-detector row spiral CT can show the extent of arteriovenous fistula, feeding artery and the level of fistula clearly. It is safe, non-invasive, rapid compared with DSA, and can be a necessary means for screening exam before DSA, serve as a DSA examination before surgery and postoperative follow-up, or even partially replace DSA.
2012, Vol. 23 
