Neuroradiology

Northside Hospital's Radiology Department is equipped with state-of-the-art MRI, CT and Angiography equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. Recent advances include:

Echoplanar MRI - For early diagnosis of stroke. Diffusion MRI can detect strokes as early as twenty minutes after onset. This places Northside Hospital in the unique position to accurately diagnose acute strokes so that the neurointevention may intervene early enough to reverse a stroke.

Carotid Stents - This minimally invasive technique is for opening narrowed arteries to the brain.

Aneurysm Coiling - The aneurysm begins as a small weakness in the vessel at branch points. As one ages and the vessel experiences blood pressure, the aneurysm grows. The aneurysm also may explode or rupture causing serious health risks.

Embolizations of Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) - Artery to vein connection demonstrated to the right. The black represents contrast in the vessels of the brain injected during an angiogram.

Glue was placed in the malformed vessels. The glue shows up as a spaghetti like tangle of black contrast.

After the treatment, no abnormality was evident.

All minimally invasive procedures are performed through a small catheter inserted into the artery of the leg. No opening of the skull or brain surgery is required.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistula

Dural arteriovenous connections are abnormal, high flow, artery to vein connections that my arise spontaneously or after vein obstruction or injury. They are potentially dangerous in the fact that they can cause a bleeding into the brain.

This patient suffered an acute bleed. Angiography revealed a dural artery to dural vein connection that lead to the bleed. After glue was placed in the fistula, no abnormal connection was evident.