Susceptibility-weighted angiography for the follow-up of brain arteriovenous malformations treated with stereotactic radiosurgery

Abstract

SUMMARY: The criterion standard for assessing brain AVM obliteration postradiosurgery is DSA. To explore the value of susceptibilityweighted angiography, we followed 26 patients with brain AVMs treated by radiosurgery using susceptibility-weighted angiography and DSA. Studies were evaluated by 2 independent readers for residual nidi. Susceptibility-weighted angiography demonstrated good intermodality (κ = 0.71) and interobserver (κ = 0.64) agreement, and good sensitivity (85.7%) and specificity (85.7%). Susceptibility-weighted angiography is a useful radiation- and contrast material-free technique to follow-up brain AVM obliteration postradiosurgery.