Cerebral vascular malformation is diagnosed by what medical technique?

The article was consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thanh Hai - Doctor of Radiology - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Cerebrovascular malformation is a congenital vascular abnormality, which can cause dangerous complications if not detected in time. To diagnose cerebrovascular malformations, doctors may prescribe many methods such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and digital angiography to erase the background.

Cerebrovascular malformation is the phenomenon of forming an abnormal vascular plexus in the brain, arteries connect directly to veins without passing through an intermediate capillary network, so there is no blood supply to the brain parenchyma. , when rupture causes stroke and bleeding in the brain. Cerebrovascular malformations are usually congenital abnormalities that develop between the fourth and eighth weeks of pregnancy.
Cerebral vascular malformations, which may cause no symptoms, are discovered incidentally during imaging tests for other reasons. Or the patient may have symptoms such as: chronic headache, unresolved medical treatment, epileptic seizures. The case of large malformations can cause brain compression, causing paralysis of limbs, severe headaches, loss of vision, difficulty speaking,...
If not detected and intervened in time, dangerous complications The most dangerous of cerebral vascular malformations is the risk of rupture causing stroke and bleeding in the brain. Patients will appear acute and sudden symptoms such as severe headache, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, hemiplegia, difficulty speaking or unable to speak, coma,...

If the patient is suspected of having a cerebrovascular malformation, the doctor may order the patient to perform the following medical techniques to confirm:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): is a technique A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain. This technique does not need to inject contrast agent, still obtains detailed images, is located in three dimensions, making it easier to detect abnormalities of the skull, such as brain tumor, cerebrovascular malformation,... Advantages Another of the method is that it does not use radiation, is non-invasive.

If the patient is suspected of having a cerebrovascular malformation, the doctor may order the patient to perform the following medical techniques to confirm:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): is a technique A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the brain. This technique does not need to inject contrast agent, still obtains detailed images, is located in three dimensions, making it easier to detect abnormalities of the skull, such as brain tumor, cerebrovascular malformation,... Advantages Another of the method is that it does not use radiation, is non-invasive. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA): This is a modern, non-invasive, non-X-ray method to help detect pathologies related to cerebrovascular abnormalities. An MRA machine is used to take pictures of the blood vessels, which are then reconstructed by computer software into a 3-D image. With the obtained images, it helps doctors diagnose cerebrovascular malformations and other cerebrovascular diseases such as aneurysms, intracranial or extracranial stenosis, etc. Tomography Angiography-CTA): is a non-invasive, high-precision technique, very valuable in examining cerebral blood vessels. CT-angiography is preferred in emergency cases because it gives quick results, which is very meaningful when patients with cerebrovascular malformations have cerebral hemorrhage, needing rapid detection for timely intervention. CT-angiography can also help detect cerebrovascular malformations, stenosis, cerebral occlusion or cerebral aneurysm even in the absence of symptoms. The disadvantage of the CTA method is that it uses contrast, so it is not suitable for patients allergic to contrast. In addition, the patient is also subjected to X-ray radiation. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA): the principle of DSA technique is to use X-rays and fluorescent light to take angiograms of blood vessels in different locations. necessary position before and after contrast injection. After the scan, the computer will blur the background image to clarify the vascular system. This technique helps to detect abnormal conditions of blood vessels early, helps to evaluate in detail the morphology of brain vascular malformations, thereby helping doctors to intervene accurately and timely. The advantage of the DSA method is that it can detect additional aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, and lateral venous drainage. These are important advantages for subsequent treatments.

After the cerebrovascular malformation is diagnosed, depending on the specific condition of the patient and the technical facilities of the medical facility, doctors can choose to treat the cerebrovascular malformation with One of the following methods:
Open surgery: open the skull, surgically cut the malformed blood vessels. malformed vascular wall cells, narrowing and occlusion of malformed vessels. Endovascular intervention: a small catheter is inserted from the femoral artery to the brain, using an occlusive agent (glue or onyx) to block cerebral vascular malformations through the embolus. If the cerebrovascular malformation is large and complex, multiple embolization may be required. Patients need to check the results of treatment after 6 months and 2 years with imaging techniques to confirm that the cerebrovascular malformation has been completely sealed. Cerebral vascular malformation is a dangerous disease that leaves many sequelae and has a high risk of death, so when the body shows signs of the onset of the disease, the patient should see a doctor for advice. and treatment in the earliest case.

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