The Brain Aneurysm Institute uses noninvasive scans and, when needed, catheter angiography to confirm a diagnosis and plan treatment. These studies can reveal aneurysms, vascular malformations, narrowed or blocked arteries, bleeding, and changes in blood flow to the brain.
CT and MRI studies at BIDMC include perfusion imaging, which measures blood flow through the brain. These scans can show abnormal vessels and changes caused by disease or prior treatment. In many cases, they provide enough detail for diagnosis and follow-up without an invasive procedure.
Catheter angiography is used when other scans cannot provide the detail the team needs. It may also be used when endovascular treatment could take place during the same procedure.
Computed tomography creates rapid two- and three-dimensional images of the brain and skull. It is often the first scan used in an emergency because it can detect fresh bleeding after an aneurysm ruptures.
CT angiography combines a CT scan with contrast injected into a vein. It shows the brain's arteries and helps define an aneurysm's size, shape, location, and connection to nearby vessels.
MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves instead of radiation. It shows brain tissue in detail, including signs of an earlier bleed and the effects of a vascular lesion on nearby structures.
Magnetic resonance angiography shows arteries and veins without a catheter. It may be performed with or without contrast and is often used for follow-up imaging.
Also called catheter angiography, this procedure uses a thin tube and contrast dye to map blood vessels in real time. It provides the clearest view of complex aneurysms, malformations, narrowing, and alternate routes of blood flow.
If symptoms suggest a ruptured aneurysm but the first scans are unclear, a lumbar puncture may be needed. This test checks the fluid around the brain and spinal cord for signs of bleeding.
BIDMC provides CT and MRI scans around the clock for patients who need urgent brain imaging. CT-MRI image fusion can combine two studies into one three-dimensional model. This gives the team a fuller view of the blood vessels and nearby brain tissue.
