Efficacy of 3D-CT angiography in surgical simulation of intracranial aneurysms

Abstract

The efficacy of three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) in diagnosis and surgical planning was investigated in 38 patients with 48 intracranial aneurysms. Conformation of the diagnosis was possible in all aneurysms more than 2 mm in diameter by 3D-CTA, except those on the infraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery. 3D-CTA showed configuartion of aneurysms and the neighbouring arterial and bony structures well. It was especially useful for: (1) multiple aneurysms, in which 3D-CTA gave good information on the accessibility of both far and near aneurysms on a single approach line; (2) giant aneurysms: the relations between the neck and parent artery were easily established by 3D-CTA images at arbitrary angles; (3) aneurysms near the skull base; and (4) aneurysms in the infraclinoid segment: the original axial images for 3D-CTA gave excellent information on structures in the extradural space.