Detection and Characterization of Intracranial Aneurysms with MR Angiography: Comparison of Volume-Rendering and Maximum-Intensity-Projection Algorithms

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare volume rendering and maximum intensity projection as postprocessing techniques of MR angiography in the detection and characterization of intracranial aneurysms.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography studies performed in 82 patients were retrospectively evaluated by two independent reviewers who were unaware of digital subtraction angiography findings, the standard of reference. Panoramic maximum-intensity-projection and volume-rendered angiograms were produced from each data set to investigate the presence of underlying aneurysms. Each detected aneurysm was then interactively evaluated with subvolume maximum-intensity-projection and targeted volume-rendering algorithms to evaluate aneurysm morphology and size. Aneurysm detection and characterization were evaluated by means of the receiver operating characteristic analysis, and aneurysm size was evaluated using the limits-of-agreement method. Image quality, aneurysm neck d...