Scintigraphic detection of congenital intracranial vascular malformations

Abstract

Nine children with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and a tenth with a cerebral aneurysm, had computer-processed dynamic scintigraphy with static scintigrams, transmission computed tomography (CT) both with and without contrast injection, and radiopaque cerebral angiography. All ten lesions were detected by dynamic scintigraphy and angiography, whereas two AVMs were missed on CT scans and the aneurysm and two AVMs (one missed by CT) were not identified on static scintigrams. Time-activity curves generated from regions of interest placed over the cerebral hemispheres, AVMs and/or various venous structures permitted, respectively, estimation of interhemispheric partition of perfusion, estimation of the fraction of total cerebral hemispheric perfusion preferentially directed into a malformation, and indication of the route of venous drainage from the lesions. While dynamic scintigraphy and CT scanning both identified the aneurysm, scintigraphy was the most effective screening test for detecting AVMs owing to its accuracy, lower cost, and lack of required anesthesia, heavy sedation or iodinated contrast agents.