Detection and characterization of very small cerebral aneurysms by using 2D and 3D helical CT angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage are due to rupture of small cerebral aneurysms. Our purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of helical CT angiography (CTA) in the detection and characterization of very small (<5 mm) intracranial aneurysms.

METHODS: One hundred eighty consecutive patients underwent CTA for suspected intracranial aneurysms. All aneurysms prospectively detected by CTA were confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) or at surgery. CT angiograms and digital subtraction angiograms were reviewed by two independent blinded radiologists who performed aneurysm detection, quantitation, and characterization using 2D multiplanar reformatted and 3D volume-rendering techniques.

RESULTS: Fifty-one patients harboring 41 very small intracranial aneurysms were included in this series. Eighty-one percent (33 of 41 aneurysms) were
CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of CTA for the detection of cerebral aneurysms