Significance of Magnetic Resonance Angiography for the Diagnosis of Cerebrovascular Diseases
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Background: Cerebrovascular disorders encompass stenotic, occlusive, aneurysmal and other vascular abnormalities that may lead to cerebral ischemia, hemorrhage, neurological disability and death. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provides non-ionizing vascular imaging and can depict the intracranial arterial system without conventional catheter angiography. Objective: To characterize cerebrovascular abnormalities identified by MRA among symptomatic patients undergoing evaluation at Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 114 patients selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Eligible patients of either sex had histories including dizziness, nausea, unusually severe headache or memory loss. Demographic and clinical information and MRA findings were recorded. Descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS version 24. Wilson 95% confidence intervals were additionally calculated for principal proportions. Results: Mean age was 34.37 ± 14.74 years (range 3-63); 66 patients (57.9%) were female. Hypertension was present in 74 (64.9%), diabetes in 39 (34.2%), headache in 71 (62.3%), dizziness in 58 (50.9%), abnormal lipoprotein levels in 67 (58.8%) and abnormal cholesterol in 64 (56.1%). MRA recorded mild stenosis in 32 (28.1%), moderate stenosis in 46 (40.4%), severe stenosis in 25 (21.9%), aneurysm in 41 (36.0%), calcified plaque in 80 (70.2%) and overall cerebrovascular disease in 73 (64.0%). Conclusion: MRA demonstrated a broad spectrum of cerebrovascular abnormalities in this symptomatic hospital population. These findings support its clinical utility for noninvasive cerebrovascular assessment, although diagnostic accuracy cannot be determined without comparison with an independent reference standard.
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