Impact of Vessel Wall MR Imaging in the Work-Up for Ischemic Stroke

J.W Song

doi:10.3174/ajnr.a6241

Abstract

Interest in the diagnostic utility of intracranial vessel wall MR imaging (VW-MR imaging) has increased during the past 2 decades. Many studies have shown that VW-MR imaging provides supplemental anatomic information to existing lumen-based imaging techniques.[1][1],[2][2] Yet, the diagnostic

Highlights

Interest in the diagnostic utility of intracranial vessel wall MR imaging (VW-MR imaging) has increased during the past 2 decades
In this single-center retrospective case series from 2006 to 2014, the authors measure the impact of VW-MR imaging to see whether supplementing the conventional diagnostic work-up with inclusion of multicontrast VW-MR imaging changed the stroke neurologist’s working diagnosis in 205 cases
Stroke etiologies were classified using a modified version of the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST)[3] classification scheme by a stroke neurologist before and after incorporating information from VW-MR imaging reviewed by an experienced neuroradiologist

Summary

Introduction

Interest in the diagnostic utility of intracranial vessel wall MR imaging (VW-MR imaging) has increased during the past 2 decades. In this single-center retrospective case series from 2006 to 2014, the authors measure the impact of VW-MR imaging to see whether supplementing the conventional diagnostic work-up with inclusion of multicontrast VW-MR imaging changed the stroke neurologist’s working diagnosis in 205 cases.

Results

Conclusion