Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University,
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE : The occurrence, growth, thrombosis, and rupture of intracranial saccular aneurysms can be directlyrelated to the effect of hemodynamic forces. We developed the phantom flow models and compared with the computersimulation program to analyse the flow pattern and hemodynamics that might be responsible for the intracranialarterial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS : We designed the arterial phantoms of three major sites of intracranialarterial aneurysm ; 1) basilar artery tip, 2) internal carotid artery bifurcation, 3) curved area of internalcarotid artery. Flow patterns in the aneurysmal portion of phantoms were evaluated with color Doppler system onthe connection with automatic clossed type of circulation system. Then, we compared the results with computersimulation. The hemodynamic characteristics of the phantoms were identical with those obtained by computersimuations. RESULTS : Three distint zones of flow were identified by color Doppler studies on the aneurysm of thecurved area of an internal carotid artery : 1) an inflow zone entering the aneurysm at the distal aspect of itsorifice, 2) an outflow zne exiting the aneurysm at the proximal aspect of its orifice, 3) a central slow vortex.However, the phantoms of basilar artery tip and artery bifurcation showed a direct inflow stream at the dome of ananeurysm. CONCLUSION : Flow dynamics in the various phantoms of the aneurysms can be successfully evaluated withcolor Doppler imaging, and were consistent with those predicted by computer simulations.
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