Susceptibility-Weighted MR Imaging for the Detection of Developmental Venous Anomaly: Comparison with T2 and FLAIR Imaging

Abstract

Purpose : We evaluated the diagnostic value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for the detection of developmentalvenous anomaly (DVA). Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of 1068 brain MR examinations found 28 DVAs in 28 patients (2.6%) oncontrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. SWI, T2, and FLAIR images of 28 patients with DVA and 28 sex- and agematchedcontrol patients without DVA were analyzed by blinded readers on each type of sequences. All images wereindependently reviewed by two radiologists who were blinded to other MR imaging finding. In cases of discrepancy, tworeviewers reached a consensus later. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictivevalue (NPV) of each MR sequence for the detection of DVA were determined. Statistical analysis was performed by usingthe Mcnemar test. The significance level was p < 0.05. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of SWI for the detection of DVA were 85.7%, 92.9%, 92.3%, and86.7%, respectively. T2 and FLAIR images showed sensitivity of 35.7% and 35.7%, specificity of 92.9% and 96.4%, PPVof 83.3% and 90.9%, and NPV of 59.1% and 60.0%, respectively. On SWI, the sensitivity and NPV for the detection ofDVAs were significantly higher than those of T2 and FLAIR images (p < 0.05). Conclusion: SWI was sensitive and specific for the detection of DVA.