MRA of fibromuscular dysplasia in cervical vessels

Purpose: To determine 3-D time of flight MR angiography for evaluation of fibromuscular dysplasia in cervical vessels. Material and methods: In 386 selective angiograms of cervical vessels fibromuscular dysplasia was revealed in 4 female patients in the age of 30-54 years. FMD was located in the carotid artery (n = 5) and in the vertebral artery (n = 2) with a total of 8 lesions. Results: 6/8 of the lesions of the seven cervical vessels were located typically in the mid cervical portion of the vessels and 2/6 lesions were located in the atlas loop of the vertebral artery. 4 lesions showed moderate stenosis and 4 vessels showed only mild stenosis. These patterns which demonstrated the typical morphology of fibromuscular dysplasia with alternating irregular zones of widening and narrowing were evaluated well with MR angiography, the others were missed. Conclusion: MR angiography is suitable for detection of fibromuscular dysplasia when the characteristic pattern is combined with moderate stenosis of the vessel. Conventional angiography remains the standard of reference.