Associated Brain Parenchymal Abnormalities in Developmental Venous Anomalies: Evaluation with Susceptibility-weighted MR Imaging

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associated brain parenchymalabnormalities of developmental venous anomalies (DVA) with susceptibility-weightedimage (SWI). Materials and Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 2356 patientsunderwent brain MR examinations with contrast enhancement. We retrospectivelyreviewed their MR examinations and data were collected as per the following criteria:incidence, locations, and associated parenchymal signal abnormalities of DVAs onT2-weighted image, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and SWI. Contrastenhanced T1-weighted image was used to diagnose DVA. Results: Of the 2356 patients examined, 57 DVAs were detected in 57 patients(2.4%); 47 (82.4%) were in either lobe of the supratentorial brain, 9 (15.7%) were inthe cerebellum, and 1 (1.7%) was in the pons. Of the 57 DVAs identified, 20 (35.1%)had associated parenchymal abnormalities in the drainage area. Among the 20 DVAswhich had associated parenchymal abnormalities, 13 showed hemorrhagic foci onSWI, and 7 demonstrated only increased parenchymal signal abnormalities on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. In 5 of the 13 patients (38.5%) who had hemorrhagicfoci, the hemorrhagic lesions were demonstrated only on SWI. Conclusion: The overall incidence of DVAs was 2.4%. Parenchymal abnormalitieswere associated with DVAs in 35.1% of the cases. On SWI, hemorrhage wasdetected in 22.8% of DVAs. Thus, we conclude that SWI might give a potential forunderstanding of the pathophysiology of parenchymal abnormalities in DVAs.