[Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: role of MR angiography]

Recenti Prog Med. 2013 Jul-Aug;104(7-8):371-5. doi: 10.1701/1315.14578.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

The aim of this work is to establish the accuracy of pulmonary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) compared to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and pulmonary angiography in the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Eight consecutive patients underwent MRA, MDCT and pulmonary angiography. All patients were carriers of PAVMs amenable to endovascular treatment. The parameters we have evaluated were the presence, the number of fistulas and the diameter of the feeding artery of the malformation. In all cases, the findings of the three tests were comparable. In only one case, MR images were considered qualitatively poorer than MDCT, although sufficient for the recognition of the lesion located in the hilum. The diameters of the arteries showed no statistically differences between MRA and CT. In conclusion, the MRA technique was found to be valid and reliable in the diagnosis of PAVMs in patients with HHT.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anthropometry
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / diagnosis*
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / etiology
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / pathology
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / therapy
  • Embolization, Therapeutic
  • Endovascular Procedures
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods*
  • Male
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology*
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Veins / pathology*
  • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / complications*