I had angio before and after my surgery and that was 26 years ago when routine MRI for headache history wasn’t even done let alone CT which might have found my AVM before it bled. Also I have worked in the medical field for 25 years. If you trust your docotr, trust that he or she has made the right decision for you. It is a little more invasive than MRI but is it more thorough? If you question his/her opinion you can always get a second one. Good luck to you and don’t be too uptight about the procedure it isn’t that bad. 
Hi their my name is Belinda I’m from Sydney Australia my circumstances are similar I was diagnosed in 79 and 2000 was diagnosed again what I was wondering where was your AVM thanks
Hi their my name is Belinda I’m from Sydney Australia my circumstances are similar I was diagnosed in 79 and 2000 was diagnosed again what I was wondering where was your AVM thanks
Hi belinda mine is on the right temporal. Lobe deep in the brainwashed and I desi.ded to go aheadwith th angio. Wish me luck
Thanks
Well, when they neurology found out about my avm they did a MRi and MRA… Later on when i had the appointment with the neurosurgeon he order only a angiograms…I had the craniotomy done an then he ordered an MRA…On my personal experience angiogram are more accurate then MRA or you can see more of the avm and make sure if theres any more left of the avm…YOU can always ask don’t hesitate my friend, you doctor will understand your concerns. Good luck my friend and god bless!!!
Please let us know what were your results or your decision< Thank you!!!
Michael.
You might want to ask your new doctor why he is recommending angio. over MRA. You might want to discuss the pros and cons of each. There are differences between the two tests. If you continue to be uncomfortable I would consult someone else.
Brittany
Angios are alot more detailed than an MRI, Angios are more expansive and they can see alot more detail on them. xxx
I have had both as follow up exams. After the GK I had a MRI then later had to do the angiogram. I have to admit that I hate angiograms, mainly because I was born without legs and it hurts so bad to walk around with holes in the groin. But, now I am doing embolization treatment once a month. So, the whole angiogram thing is once a month. how lucky...
Had two cranial angiograms - best to get it done right. I have been having all of my procedures at USC. Angiograms, emblizations, gama knife and cyber knife. USC has The best doctors in the world for my brain AVM. Glad to give anyone that needs it USC's contact information. It has been one year today since my first sezure and AVM discovery.
Hi, Michael
You've probably made your decisions and moved forward by now, but we're all here to help each other. Here's my experience:
My GP did an MRI when I was experiencing brief periods of blindness. It revealed a large fistula.
I was referred to a neurologist, then to an interventional neuroradiologist. He wanted his own MRI, which revealed the same thing. He scheduled an angiogram and embolization.
The angiogram revealed that there was not only the large fistula, but a connected AVM and an additional tiny vessel. He was able to embolize the fistula with a coil and Onyx and scrambled the AVM (?). Couldn't get to the third tiny vessel in the first procedure (he'd already been in there for 7 hours and would have had to come in from a different direction to get to the other vessel). Besides, he hoped that blocking the blood supply to the third issue would cause it to atrophy, so we were going to wait a bit and go in for another angiogram and see if it was gone. I also had nerve damage numbing my head, so he wanted to wait and see what happened with that.
After three months I had the second angio. Not only did the vessel not atrophy, two new ones had been spawned. My next step is a neurosurgeon.
Net net, the MRI is a good basic tool, but the angio is essential (in my opinion) when you're dealing with something asvital as the brain and with things as tiny as we are dealing with.
Good luck to you!!
My son had a residual Avm treated with onyx only no radiation in Dec2010, just had f/u angiogram one yr later nothing there AVM gone. Plan is repeat angio in 3 yrs, he will be 15 yrs old then.
Hi, the same thing happened to me. My doctor re-located and I was given a new one. The reason he might want an angiogram is because although your pevious doctor left him info about you, the best way for him to know exactly what he's dealing with is by going in with an angiogram. Good luck!
I had an MRI/MRA/MRV
One radiologist said they didn't find anything, another did and wants me to have an angiogram.
I am going for another opinion. I have Pusatile Tinnitus and no other symptoms.
What about getting a CTA or a CT Veniogram? How about Doppler Ultra sound first?
Isn't it better to get the non invasive tests done first?
My advise before you go for extra diagnostic procedure:
Show the existing suspicious imagery to another doctor and ask them what to do. If they also say angiography, have one done.
Since the 'other radiologist' seems to suspect something vascular, maybe look for a person from the field.
what is the suspicion btw ?
MRI vs. angio. In my experience I would pick the angio through and through yes you are uncomfortable for a hours but you will get a better result for the doctors to read. It is a minor procedure. Just get all your information from you new doctor. But I assure you it is the best thing to do. I wish you well and I hope you do your own research as well. GOOGLE IT!!! It will answer all of your questions.
I have had countless MRA's for checkups it's easy and relatively non-invasive (They do inject you with a dye). The angiogram is the easiest way to do a check up but requires some recovery time and in my opinion is annoying. I often only get them with my embolizations.
Hello all, where are you located? It will only confirm what the MRI had shown.
MRI's are OK if there aren't any Metle Clips in the area that was treated. If there is, let the people at the check-in desk know. They may kick you out of the Building!!!!!