Abstract：Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of susceptibility weighted imaging(SWI) in angiographically occult vascular malformations(AOVM). Methods: The imaging data of MRI were retrospectively analyzed in fifty-two cases(including 27 cases cavernous hemangioma and 25 cases venous angioma). Imaging findings and number of AOVM on SWI was compared with conventional MR sequences. Results: In all cavernous hemangioma cases, SWI detected more cavernous hemangioma lesions than those in other sequences. In all venous angioma cases, the dilated draining veins and medullary veins were shown well on SWI, and assimilated to a “Caput Medusae”. Conclusion: SWI could detect lesions of cavernous angioma and venous angioma more sensitively than other sequences, which is a reliable diagnostic technique for AOVM. SWI has higher clinical value, and should be the routine sequence in the MRI examination.
2010, Vol. 21 
