Impact of width of susceptibility vessel sign on recanalization following endovascular therapy

Abstract

Background and purposeWe aimed to investigate the relationship between arterial recanalization following endovascular therapy and the susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) length and width on susceptibility-weighted imaging. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke who underwent magnetic resonance imaging preceded endovascular therapy, and measured the SVS length and width. Successful recanalization was defined as expanded thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade of 2b to 3. Logistic regression analysis was executed to determine the independent predictors of successful recanalization and first-pass reperfusion (FPR) after endovascular therapy. ResultsAmong 100 patients, successful recanalization and FPR were observed in 77 and 34 patients, respectively. The median SVS length and width were 10.3 mm (interquartile range, 6.8–14.1 mm) and 4.2 mm (interquartile range, 3.1–5.2 mm), respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, SVS width was associated with successful recanalization (odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–3.07; p = 0.005) and FPR (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.89; p = 0.039). The optimal cutoff value for the SVS width to predict successful recanalization and FPR were 4.2 mm and 4.0 mm, respectively. ConclusionsLarger SVS width may predict successful recanalization and FPR following endovascular therapy.