High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Symptomatic Middle Cerebral Artery Dissection

Abstract

Dissection of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is less frequent compared with dissection of vessels in the vertebrobasilar system or dissection of the carotid artery. High-resolution cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) has emerged as a potential technique for atherosclerotic plaque imaging in MCA. We enrolled 3 patients with MCA dissection on whom HRMRI was performed for evaluation of MCA stenosis. Two patients had an embolic infarction in the MCA territory and focal dissection. One patient had a massive infarction in the MCA territory and long-segment dissection of the MCA. On HRMRI, our objectives had an intimal flap with patency of the lumen and 1 had extensive hemorrhaging in the false lumen.