Appearance of capillary telangiectasias in diffusion-weighted MRI

Ziele: Objective: To evaluate the appearance of capillary telangiectasias in the brain stem in diffusion-weighted MRI. Methode: 18 patients with infratentorial capillary telangiectasias in the pons were examined using a 1.5 T whole boldy system (Magnetom Symphony, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) with the standard head coil. The imaging protocol included T2-w turbo spin-echo, T1-weighted conventional spin-echo, diffusion-weighted gradient-echo (b-values=0, 500, 1000), all acquired in the transverse orientation before and T1-w conventional spin-echo in transverse and sagittal orientation, as well as T1-w gradient-echo in the coronal plane after application of gadolinium (Omniscan, 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, Amersham Health, Oslo, Norway). The appearance of capillary telangiectasias was evaluated visually by two observers and quantitatively calculating SNR and CNR values. Ergebnis: All of the capillary telangiectasias revealed low intensity in diffusion-weighted images except for one, which showed an isointense appearance, and high to iso-intensity on corresponding ADC maps. This finding was confirmed by quantitative evaluation calculating SNR and CNR values. None of the capillary telangiectasias revealed high intensity on diffusion-weighted images or low intensity on ADC maps. All lesions showed a significant contrast enhancement after application of gadolinium. Schlussfolgerung: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging seems to be a practicable and useful MR imaging adjunct for the diagnosis of capillary telangiectasias which may facilitate the differential diagnosis concerning tumorous and ischemic (acute and subacute) lesions.

Korrespondierender Autor: Finkenzeller TF

Institut für Röntgendiagnostik Uni Regensburg, F.-J. Strauss-Allee 12, 93053 Regensburg

E-Mail: [e-mail]

Key words

Kapilläre Teleangiektasien - Diffusion - MRT