Stroke often strikes suddenly and is the leading cause of disability\nand death in Indonesia. One way to reduce the risk of severe stroke is\nto detect cerebral blood vessel abnormalities earlier, in accordance\nwith medical indications.<\/p>\n
However, it should be noted that stroke can actually be prevented by\ndetecting disorders of the brain\u2019s blood vessels at an earlier stage.\nThrough screening, the risk of stroke can be identified sooner so that\ntreatment can be carried out in a timely manner. One such method is\nDigital Subtraction Angiography (DSA).<\/p>\n
Dr.\u00a0Muhammad Ichsan Fachrudin Firdaus, a neurosurgery specialist with\na stroke intervention fellowship at Bethsaida Hospital Gading Serpong,\nsaid that DSA is an invasive radiological examination that uses contrast\nmedia to view the detailed structure of the brain\u2019s blood vessels.<\/p>\n
\u201cDSA is considered the gold standard because it can display the\nanatomy of the brain\u2019s blood vessels at very high resolution. From\nthere, doctors can confirm the presence of an aneurysm, AVM, stenosis,\nAVF, or other vascular abnormalities that have the potential to trigger\na stroke,\u201d he explained to CNBC Indonesia on Tuesday (9\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
For information, the term gold standard refers to an examination that\nserves as the main reference in establishing a diagnosis because it is\nconsidered to have a high level of accuracy. In the context of examining\nthe brain\u2019s blood vessels, DSA is one of the reference methods because\nit is able to provide a detailed and real-time image of the blood\nvessels, thereby helping doctors determine the diagnosis and appropriate\ntreatment plan.<\/p>\n
DSA is suitable for patients with suspected vascular malformations\n(aneurysm, AV fistula), those requiring evaluation before surgery or\nvessel occlusion procedures (intervention), recurrent stroke without a\nclear cause, and preparation for endovascular procedures.<\/p>\n
According to Dr.\u00a0Ichsan, DSA is not performed for screening in\nhealthy individuals. This examination is only considered when a patient\nhas indications, such as suspected vascular malformations\u2014namely\naneurysm, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), and arteriovenous fistula\n(AVF)\u2014based on MRI\/MRA\/CTA results.<\/p>\n
It is also indicated for recurrent stroke without a clear cause after\nnon-invasive examinations, evaluation before surgery or endovascular\nintervention, and evaluation of severe cerebral vessel stenosis.<\/p>\n
The purpose of brain DSA is to identify blood vessel abnormalities in\nthe brain such as aneurysm (widening of a blood vessel), AVM\n(arteriovenous malformation), stenosis (narrowing), AVF (arteriovenous\nfistula), and tumours that contain many blood vessels (meningioma).<\/p>\n
\u201cInitial examination is usually carried out using MRI, MRA, or CT\nAngiography. If a suspicious abnormality is found, DSA is then performed\nfor confirmation and treatment planning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
DSA also has a therapeutic function. Once an abnormality is detected,\nthe doctor can directly perform an endovascular procedure in the same\nsession, such as coiling for an aneurysm, embolisation for AVM, or\nballoon angioplasty for stenosis.<\/p>\n
Risks and Patient Preparation<\/p>\n
As an invasive procedure, DSA carries a complication risk of around\n0.5\u20131%, including haematoma at the puncture site in the thigh or arm,\nallergic reaction to the contrast media, impaired kidney function, or a\nvery small risk of procedural stroke.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, DSA has contraindications. Patients with severe kidney\nfailure, severe contrast allergy, or blood clotting disorders require\nspecial evaluation first. The decision to perform DSA is always based on\na benefit-risk assessment by the medical team,\u201d added Dr.\u00a0Ichsan.<\/p>\n
The DSA examination itself can only be performed in hospitals that\nhave cathlab facilities and is handled by a team of neurosurgery\nspecialists with stroke\/vascular intervention fellowships,\ninterventional radiologists, or interventional neurologists.<\/p>\n
For information, DSA screening can be performed at Bethsaida Hospital\nwith increasingly modern and integrated diagnostic services. Bethsaida\nHospital hopes that the public can obtain high-quality healthcare\nservices domestically without having to seek treatment abroad.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/understanding-brain-dsa-an-examination-for-cerebral-blood-vessel-abnormalities-1787032373", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }