High-resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Articles

Symptomatic plaque enhancement is associated with early-onset post-stroke depression

BackgroundThe association between imaging features closely associated with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic plaques and early-onset post-stroke depression (PSD) is currently unclear. Materials and methods76 ischemic stroke patients who underwent high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR-VWI) were divided into PSD and non-PSD groups according to their DSM-V diagnoses and HAMD-17 scores at 14 days after onset. Clinical data and the imaging features associated with symptomatic plaques (including the enhancement index (EI), remodeling index, and plaque surface irregularity) were compared between groups. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was used to find independent predictors of early-onset PSD. Spearman rank correlation analysis explores the association between clinical data, symptomatic plaque imaging features, and HAMD-17 in patients. ResultsThe sample comprised 36 patients with early-onset PSD. The symptomatic plaque EI and infarct volume were significantly higher in depressed patients than in patients without depression (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that symptomatic plaque EI could be used as an independent predictor of early-onset PSD after correcting for the confounding factor of infarct volume (OR = 1.034, 95% CI:1.014–1.055, P = 0.001). In the total sample, symptomatic plaque EI, infarct volume, and HAMD-17 had a significant positive correlation with each other (P < 0.05). LimitationsThis study focused only on the patients' symptomatic plaques and did not monitor patients' systemic inflammation levels at the time of HR-VWI. ConclusionsThe degree of symptomatic plaque enhancement is an independent predictive imaging marker of early-onset PSD and can be used the early diagnosis of early-onset PSD.

Baseline vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging characteristics associated with in-stent restenosis for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis

BackgroundImaging factors, specifically baseline plaque features on high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) that could be associated with in-stent restenosis (ISR), are still unknown. We aimed to investigate the...

The Value of High-Resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System in Children

Purpose: High-resolution vessel wall-magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) has been used to detect regional vessel wall pathology, significantly contributing to the diagnosis of primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) from other arteriopathies. In this study, we aimed to describe three cases of PACNS initially presenting as acute ischemic stroke, diagnosed and followed up with VW-MRI. Methods: The medical records of three patients diagnosed with PACNS were retrospectively reviewed. We also reviewed the clinical application of VW-MRI in published articles for the pediatric cases since 2016. Results: The initial presenting symptoms were headache, diplopia, confused mentality, hemiplegia, dysarthria, and dizziness. All patients had acute infarction on brain MRI, with suspicion of vasculopathy on magnetic resonance angiography. VW-MRI revealed narrowing of vessels with concentric wall thickening and diffuse enhancement in the anterior cerebral artery (n=1), middle cerebral artery (n=1), posterior cerebral artery (n=2), lenticulostriate artery (n=1), anterior inferior cerebellar artery (n=1), and vertebral artery (n=1), suggestive of vascular wall pathology. After excluding the possible etiologies of vasculitis, the clinical diagnosis of PACNS was established. Three patients received high-dose steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy. Two patients were treated with long-term azathioprine based upon the findings of persistent vessel enhancement on VW-MRI. All patients were regularly followed up with VW-MRI for more than 1 year. We summarized the clinical and radiological features of the published pediatric cases using VW-MRI to date. Conclusion: High-resolution VW-MRI plays an important role in diagnosing childhood PACNS, as results correlate with disease activity.

Vascular Diameters as Predictive Factors of Recanalization Surgery Outcomes in Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion.

Background: Revascularization surgery sometimes can achieve recanalization in patients with internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO). High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HRVWI) is a feasible technique to give detailed characteristics of the vessel wall, which may help to identify patients that carry higher success rates and more suitable for revascularization surgery.Objective: To examine the association between HRVWI characteristics of ICAO and the success rate of revascularization surgery in ICAO patients.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 31 ICAO recanalization patients enrolled from October 2017 to May 2019. The clinical data of patients and lesions were collected and analyzed.Results: A total of 31 ICAO patients were enrolled in this study. No significant differences were found between recanalization success and recanalization failure groups with regard to occlusion length, distal end of the occluded segment, and the treatment applied. The ipsilateral-to-contralateral diameter ratios (I/C ratios) of C1 or C2 and the diameter of C7 were positively related to recanalization success. A two-factor predictive model was constructed, and the I/C ratio of C2 < 0.86 and the diameter of C7 < 1.75mm were separately assigned 1 point. The ICAO patients who scored 0, 1, or 2 points had a risk of 5.6% (1/18), 55.6% (5/9), or 100% (4/4) to fail in the recanalization.Conclusions: The I/C ratios of C1 or C2 and the diameter of C7 are predictive factors of a revascularization surgery success in ICAO patients. A risk stratification model involving C2 and C7 was constructed for future clinical applications.

Association of residual stenosis after balloon angioplasty with vessel wall geometries in intracranial atherosclerosis

BackgroundPercutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) may be an alternative treatment for patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) refractory to medical treatment. This study aimed to investigate the association of...

Presence of Vessel Wall Hyperintensity in Unruptured Arteriovenous Malformations on Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Pilot Study of AVM Vessel Wall "Enhancement".

Purpose: High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) could provide a way to identify high risk arteriovenous malformation (AVM) features. We present the first pilot study of clinically unruptured AVMs evaluated by high-resolution VW-MRI.Methods: A retrospective review of clinically unruptured AVMs with VW-MRI between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018 was performed documenting the presence or absence of vessel wall “hyperintensity,” or enhancement, within the nidus as well as perivascular enhancement and evidence of old hemorrhage (EOOH). The extent of nidal vessel wall “hyperintensity” was approximated into five groups: 0, 1–25, 26–50, 51–75, and 76–100%.Results: Of the nine cases, eight demonstrated at least some degree of vessel wall nidus “hyperintensity.” Of those eight cases, four demonstrated greater than 50% of the nidus with hyperintensity at the vessel wall, and three cases had perivascular enhancement adjacent to nidal vessels. Although none of the subjects had prior clinical hemorrhage/AVM rupture, of the six patients with available susceptibility weighted imaging to assess for remote hemorrhage, only two had subtle siderosis to suggest prior sub-clinical bleeds.Conclusion: Vessel wall “enhancement” occurs in AVMs with no prior clinical rupture. Additional studies are needed to further investigate the implication of these findings.

Characteristics of high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging of cervicocerebral artery dissection and the influential factors of vascular recanalization.

Cervicocerebral artery dissection (CAD) is one of the important causes for ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged people. CAD is dangerous and untimely diagnosis and treatment are likely to result in severe disability. Early diagnosis and timely intervention can greatly improve the prognosis of patients. This study was to investigate the imaging features of CAD on high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HRMR-VWI) and to analyze the influential factors of vascular recanalization. A total of 19 CAD patients with both baseline HRMR-VWI and follow-up data of vascular imaging in the period from April 2017 to December 2019 in Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University were retrospectively analyzed. The diseased vessels were divided into a recovery group and a unrecovered group. After treatment, diseased vessels with no residual arterial dissection and no residual stenosis in the lumen were included in the recovery group. Diseased vessels with stenosis, occlusion or residual dissection were included in the unrecovered group. Diseased vessels were divided into a ischemic stroke group and a non-ischemic stroke group according to the presence or absence of ischemic stroke in the area supplied by the diseased vessels. Differences in clinical data and HRMR-VWI imaging findings were compared between the groups. A total of 26 vessels were involved, including 14 (53.8%) internal carotid artery extracranial segment, 8 (30.8%) vertebral artery extracranial segment, 3 (11.5%) vertebral artery intracranial segment, and 1 (3.9%) basilar artery. Ischemic stroke occurred in 16 diseased vascular supply areas. Intramural hematoma was all observed in the baseline HMR-VWI of the affected vessels. There were 18 vessels (69.2%) in the recovery group and 8 vessels (30.8%) in the unrecovered group. Compared with the vessels in the recovery group, the vessels in the unrecovered group were mostly found in the intracranial segment (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in gender, age, imaging findings of dissection, length of lesion involvement, time between reexamination, vascular occlusion, and antiplatelet therapy between the recovery group and the unrecovered group (all P>0.05).There were nosignificant differences in age, gender, complication of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, lesion location, vascular occlusion, lesion involvement length, double lumen sign, internal membrane, and lumen thrombosis between the ischemic stroke group and the non-ischemic stroke group (all P>0.05). Intramural hematoma is a common imaging manifestation of CAD and can be shown clearly and accurately on HRMR-VWI. Recanalization rate of CAD is high, and the recanalization of CAD in intracranial segment is slower than that of CAD in extracranial segment, which can prolong the review time.

Usefulness of 3D High-resolution Vessel Wall MRI in Diffuse Nonaneurysmal SAH Patients.

In 15-20% of patients with nontraumatic diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), the initial conventional angiography does not reveal acausative vascular abnormality, such as intracranial aneurysm. In this study, we evaluated clinical utility of 3D high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR-VWI) in patients with diffuse nonaneurysmal SAH. A total of 17 patients with diffuse nonaneurysmal SAH were included in this retrospective study. We characterized demographics and HR-VWI findings and reviewed the clinical management and outcomes. Of the patients 14 (14/17; 82.4%,) showed abnormal findings on HR-VWI, including 5 with intracranial dissections (29.4%), 3 with blood blister-like aneurysm (17.6%), 1 with ruptured fusiform aneurysm (5.9%), and 5 with focal nodular wall enhancement without unclassified pathology (29.4%). Of these patients were treated with endovascular management. Most patients (16/17) had afavorable modified Rankin scale scores of 0-2 on discharge. The 3D HR-VWI revealed various hidden pathologies, such as intracranial arterial dissection, blood blister-like aneurysm, and fusiform aneurysm in patients with diffuse nonaneurysmal SAH. In addition, 3D HR-VWI had an impact on the management of SAH. The 3D HR-VWI can be acomplementary diagnostic method for patients with diffuse nonaneurysmal SAH in aresearch or clinical setting.

The Etiology and Secondary Prevention of a Stroke Patient after Successful Catheter Ablation

Ischemic Stroke (IS) is one of the leading diseases of mortality and disability worldwide. The rational administration of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs is of great importance to prevent stroke recurrence. Here we report an IS patient with a medical history of Catheter Ablation (CA) of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), who had a single vessel scattered lesions in the head Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, which indicated a remarkable correlation with morphology of atherosclerotic artery and artery embolism, while no AF recurrence was detected. At last, we focused on the possible criminal artery and found vulnerable plaques from apparent positive remodeling demonstrated by High-Resolution Vessel Wall MRI (HRVW-MRI). We provided a secondary prevention with the statin and antiplatelet therapy to reduce the risk of bleeding caused by anticoagulation and asked him to follow up Holter every three months. Along with this case report, we describe the imageology, review of literature and treatment outcomes in regard to CA of AF and discuss the prevention of IS.

High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging for depicting imaging features of unruptured intracranial vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms.

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the application value of high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR-VW-MRI) for depicting the imaging features of unruptured intracranial vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (VBDAs).MethodsHR-VW-MRI data of 49 patients with suspected unruptured VBDAs were retrospectively analyzed. The presence of intramural hematomas (IMH), double lumens, intimal flaps, and outer diameter enlargements were recorded. Specificity and sensitivity were calculated for both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) sequences. Additionally, IMH volumes were measured and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) involvement was analyzed.ResultsThirty-five VBDAs were confirmed in 34 patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 0.889 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.730–0.964) and 0.769 (95% CI: 0.460–0.938) for 2D sequences, and 0.917 (95% CI: 0.764–0.978) and 0.846 (95% CI: 0.537–0.973) for 3D sequences, respectively. Intimal flaps were detected in 57.1%, 87.5%, and 71.4% of all cases on 2D pre-contrast T1-weighted, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted, and 3D T1-weighted black-blood (BB) images, respectively. There was no significant difference in IMH volume between 3D T1-weighted BB and magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequences. PICA involvement was best visualized using 3D T1 sequences.Conclusion3D T1-weighted BB MRI provided good visualization of VBDA features, with large coverage, and was useful for detecting dissection flaps.

Comparison of plaque characteristics of small and large subcortical infarctions in the middle cerebral artery territory using high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging

The characteristics of plaque that ultimately lead to different subcortical infarctions remain unclear. We explored the differences in plaque characteristics between patients with small subcortical infarction (SSI) and large subcortical infarction (LSI) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-MRVWI). The study group comprised 71 patients (mean age, 47.49±11.5 years; 55 male) with MCA territory ischemic stroke. Whole-brain HR-MRVWI was performed using a three-dimensional T1-weighted variable-flip-angle turbo spin echo (SPACE) sequence. Patients were divided into SSI and LSI groups based on routine MRI images. Plaque distribution was classified as the superior, inferior, ventral, or dorsal wall of the MCA. The number of quadrants with plaque formation, location of plaque, plaque burden (PB), arterial remodeling pattern (positive or negative), and degree of stenosis were analyzed and compared between groups. Of the 71 patients, 43 (60.6%) and 28 (39.4%) were identified as the SSI and LSI groups, respectively. The proportion of plaques involving only one quadrant was significantly higher in the SSI group, and these plaques were located in the superior or dorsal MCA vessel wall. There was no significant difference between groups in the proportion of plaques involving two or more quadrants, plaque distribution, or PB. Most plaques in both groups showed positive remodeling, and the percentage of remodeling pattern was similar. A significantly higher incidence of low-grade stenosis (<50%) was observed in the SSI group. Both SSI and LSI may be associated with major intracranial artery atherosclerosis, but patients with SSI showed relatively fewer quadrants with plaque formation and a lesser degree of stenosis.

Normalized wall index, intraplaque hemorrhage and ulceration of carotid plaques correlate with the severity of ischemic stroke

Background and aimsCarotid atherosclerosis is considered an important cause of ischemic stroke. Tthis study aimed to explore the relationship between plaque features and the severity of stroke, and to identify plaque risk factors for the assessment of the severity of ischemic stroke. MethodsSymptomatic patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were prospectively recruited and underwent high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI). Two trained MRI readers independently identified intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), calcification (CA), surface CA, deep CA, and ulceration. They measured and calculated the maximum vessel diameter (Max VD), maximum wall thickness (Max WT), total vessel area, lumen area, normalized wall index (NWI), plaque volume, IPH volume, IPH proportion, CA volume, and CA proportion. Patients were divided into two groups according to their National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (NIHSS ≤1 vs. NIHSS >1). Clinical characteristics and carotid plaque features were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test or Chi-square test as appropriate. Odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) of plaque features to distinguish patients with NIHSS >1 were calculated. Spearman's rank correlations or Pearson correlations were determined for plaque features and NIHSS scores. ResultsOf the 97 included patients, 34 (35.05%) with NIHSS >1 had significantly greater NWI (p < 0.05), larger IPH volume (p < 0.01), and greater IPH proportion (p < 0.01), and higher prevalence of IPH (OR, 5.654; 95%CI, 2.272–14.070; p < 0.01) and ulceration (OR, 2.891; 95%CI, 1.090–7.667; p = 0.033) than patients with NIHSS ≤1. Max WT (r = 0.24, p = 0.018), NWI (r = 0.22, p = 0.032), IPH (r = 0.27, p = 0.007), IPH volume (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), IPH proportion (r = 0.28, p = 0.005), and ulceration (r = 0.35, p < 0.01) had positive correlations with NIHSS scores. ConclusionsNWI, IPH, and ulceration of carotid atherosclerotic plaque based on high-resolution VW-MRI may be useful indicators for assessing the severity of ischemic stroke in patients with atherosclerosis. NIHSS score is related to max WT, NWI, IPH, IPH volume, IPH proportion, and ulceration.

Arterial culprit plaque characteristics revealed by magnetic resonance Vessel Wall imaging in patients with single or multiple infarcts

PurposeTo investigate characteristics of intra- and extracranial arterial culprit plaques between patients with single infarct and multiple-infarcts by a head-neck combined high resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-MRVWI). Materials and methodsForty-three patients with recent ischemic stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis were enrolled. The head-neck combined HR-MRVWI was performed in all patients both pre- and post-contrast administration. Based on diffusion weighted imaging findings, patients were divided into single-infarction and multiple-infarction groups. For patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke, they were also divided into perforating artery infarction (PAI) and non-PAI groups. Patient demographics, number and location of culprit plaques, artery stenosis percentage, intraplaque hemorrhage, and plaque enhancement were evaluated and compared between single-infarction and multiple-infarction groups, as well as between PAI and non-PAI groups. ResultsA total of 83 culprit plaques were identified. The artery stenosis degree was more severe and plaque enhancement more prominent in multiple-infarction group than in single-infarction group. Patients with multiple infarcts also had more culprit plaques per patient than those with single infarct, which contributed to the occurrence of multiple infarcts. For comparison of PAI and non-PAI groups, a higher artery stenosis percentage was observed in non-PAI group, and patients with non-PAI had more culprit plaques per patient, which contributed to a variety of infarct manifestations. ConclusionA higher stenosis grade and higher number of culprit plaques seem to be associated with a higher number of cerebral infarcts in patients with large artery atherosclerosis.

Application value of preoperative high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging evaluation on symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis stenting

Objective To investigate the value of preoperative high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HRMR-VWI) in stenosis stenting for symptomatic middle cerebral artery. Methods The clinical data of 35 patients with atherosclerotic stenosis in middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 segment who were treated with stenting therapy (stenting angioplasty) at Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from August 2011 to May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. HRMR-VWI results were used to evaluate the location, composition and stability of plaques before operation. The mortality and morbidity at 30 days post operation were determined by clinical follow-up. The ischemic stroke and restenosis rates at 12 months post operation were confirmed by imaging follow-up. Results The preoperative HRMR-VWI of 35 patients showed that the plaques in 15 cases were located on the ventral vessel wall, those in 12 on the inferior, and those in 8 on the upper vessel wall. Seven patients had unstable plaques in the M1 segment of MCA. The stents were successfully placed in 35 patients and well adhered with smooth blood flow. Technical complications occurred in 2 (5.7%) patients. One patient (2.8%) died of cerebral hernia due to reperfusion hemorrhage in 30 days after surgery, although decompressive craniectomy and hematoma clearing were performed. One patient (2.8%) had residual neurological dysfunction. Twelve months after the operation, no ischemic stroke occurred in 34 patients, and no restenosis occurred in the 5 patients who were followed up by imaging. Conclusion HRMR-VWI has a high diagnostic value for the location and stability of plaques in stenotic sites of MCA, which could improve the safety and effectiveness of stenting of MCA M1 segment stenosis. Key words: Middle cerebral artery; Endovascular procedures; Stents; Atherosclerotic stenosis; High resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging

Abstract WMP44: Differential Middle Cerebral Artery Plaque Characteristics in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke: A High-Resolution MR Vessel Wall Imaging Study

Introduction: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) correlates highly with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Magnetic Resonance (MR) vessel wall imaging (VWI) is an emerging non-invasive imaging modality for directly assessing ICAD lesions. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed MR-VWI from 42 TIA patients and 45 AIS patients with ICAD. All patients fulfilled the following criteria: (1) stenosis &gt;30% of a middle cerebral artery (MCA), (2) symptoms contralateral to stenotic MCA, (3) no coexisting stenosis at other major vessels; (4) lack of compelling evidence to other etiologies of stroke/TIA. Vascular lesions were analyzed with MR-VWI with respect to the stenosis degree, vessel wall irregularity, plaque burden (PB), remodeling index (RI), plaque-wall contrast ratio (CR) and plaque enhancement grade (EG). Results: EG (OR 3.88, 95%CI 1.42-10.57, P=0.006) was a risk factor for AIS while PB (OR 0.65, 95%CI 0.27-1.54, P=0.008) was a risk factor for TIA. In patients with 30-70% degree stenosis, CR (OR 5.38, 95%CI 1.39-20.75, P=0.008) was a risk factor for stroke, while PB (OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.1-1.65, P=0.006) remained a risk factor for TIA. Conclusions: In our study, PB appeared as a risk factor for TIA but not for AIS. This suggests that unstable plaque accounting for AIS may have a wide range of PB. We further found that CR and EG are more associated with AIS than TIA. Lesions with high CR and strong enhancement may be more prone to producing the permanent ischemic injury. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of MR-VWI in differential diagnosis and management of TIA and AIS.

Three Tesla 3D High-Resolution Vessel Wall MRI of the Orbit may Differentiate Arteritic From Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is the most common cause of acute optic neuropathy in older patients. Distinguishing between arteritic AION (A-AION) and nonarteritic (NA-AION) is paramount for improved patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate 3-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall (HR-VW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T to discriminate A-AION from NA-AION. This prospective single-center study was approved by a national research ethics board and included 27 patients (17 A-AION and 10 NA-AION) with 36 AIONs from December 2014 to August 2017 who underwent 3 T HR-VW MRI. Two radiologists blinded to clinical data individually analyzed the imaging separately and in random order. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus with a third neuroradiologist. The primary diagnostic criterion was the presence of inflammatory changes of the ophthalmic artery. Secondary diagnostic criteria included the presence of an enhancement of the optic nerve or its sheath, the optic disc, or inflammatory changes of posterior ciliary or extracranial arteries. A Fisher exact test was used to compare A-AION from NA-AION patients. Inflammatory changes of the ophthalmic artery were present in all patients with A-AION but in none of NA-AION (P < 0.0001). Its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 100%. Inflammatory changes of posterior ciliary arteries were significantly more likely in A-AOIN (82% vs 0%, P < 0.0001). Interreader and intrareader agreements were almost perfect (κ = 0.82-1). High-resolution vessel wall MRI seems highly accurate when distinguishing A-AION from NA-AION and might be useful to improve patient management.

Preliminary application of high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging in follow-up of vertebrobasilar artery dissecting aneurysms post endovascular treatment

Objective To evaluate the utilization of high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) in follow-up of vertebrobasilar artery dissecting aneurysms post endovascular treatment. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 10 patients with vertebrobasilar artery dissecting aneurysms who underwent endovascular treatment between December 2015 and December 2017 at Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. Among those, 8 cases were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization and 2 with stent embolization. We used DSA、TOF-MRA and HR-VWI at follow-up to identify the arterial stenosis and recurrence of aneurysm. Results Intravascular therapy was performed in 10 patients. Immediate postoperative angiography showed complete embolization in 7 cases and partial embolization in 3. There was no postoperative complication reported. The mean follow-up period was 6.8±5.5 months (range: 3-22 months). DSA results showed arteries with stenosis in 2 cases and no stenosis in the remaining 8. There were 6 parent arteries with stenosis and 4 parent arteries without stenosis in TOF-MRA. HR-VWI revealed 3 cases with stenosis and 7 cases without stenosis. There were 3 patients with recurrence in HR-VWI, TOF-MRA and DSA. HR-VWI and DSA were compared to evaluate the artery stenosis, and 2 cases were consistent and 1 case was not. However, there were 2 cases that were consistent and 4 cases that were not consistent by comparing between TOF-MRA and DSA results. The results of DSA, TOF-MRA and HR-VWI were consistent in evaluating the recurrence of dissected aneurysms. Two cases underwent the second endovascular therapy among 3 cases with recurrence and the other 1 case received conservative treatment. DSA and HR-VWI follow-up showed no stenosis or recurrence in the 2 cases. Conclusion HR-VWI may have high clinical application value in evaluation of recurrence of vertebrobasilar dissection aneurysms, which could be used as an optional method for follow-up after endovascular treatment of vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Key words: Aneurysm, dissecting; Vertebral artery; Basilar artery; Follow-up studies; Endorascular treatment; High-resolusion magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging

High-resolution intracranial vessel wall MRI in an elderly asymptomatic population: comparison of 3T and 7T

ObjectivesSeveral intracranial vessel wall sequences have been described in recent literature, with either 3-T or 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the current study, we compared 3-T and 7-T MRI in visualising both the intracranial arterial vessel wall and vessel wall lesions.MethodsTwenty-one elderly asymptomatic volunteers were scanned by 3-T and 7-T MRI with an intracranial vessel wall sequence, both before and after contrast administration. Two raters scored image quality, and presence and characteristics of vessel wall lesions.ResultsVessel wall visibility was equal or significantly better at 7 T for the studied arterial segments, even though there were more artefacts hampering assessment. The better visualisation of the vessel wall at 7 T was most prominent in the proximal anterior cerebral circulation and the posterior cerebral artery. In the studied elderly asymptomatic population, 48 vessel-wall lesions were identified at 3 T, of which 7 showed enhancement. At 7 T, 79 lesions were identified, of which 29 showed enhancement. Seventy-one percent of all 3-T lesions and 59 % of all 7-T lesions were also seen at the other field strength.ConclusionsDespite the large variability in detected lesions at both field strengths, we believe 7-T MRI has the highest potential to identify the total burden of intracranial vessel wall lesions.Key Points• Intracranial vessel wall visibility was equal or significantly better at 7-T MRI• Most vessel wall lesions in the cerebral arteries were found at 7-T MRI• Many intracranial vessel wall lesions showed enhancement after contrast administration• Large variability in detected intracranial vessel wall lesions at both field strengths• Seven-tesla MRI has the highest potential to identify total burden of intracranial atherosclerosis

High-resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Intracranial Aneurysms and Brain Arteriovenous Malformations.

Over the last several years, the advent of intracranial high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) has provided a new lens with which to view cerebrovascular disease that has not previously been available with conventional imaging. It has already fundamentally changed the way that steno-occlusive diseases are evaluated at many academic centers. This review focuses on current and emerging applications of intracranial high-resolution VW-MRI in the clinical evaluation of intracranial aneurysms and brain arteriovenous malformations. Examples are provided from our clinical practice.

Evaluation of the Arterial Wall in Vertebrobasilar Artery Dissection Using High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Vessel Wall Imaging

High-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HRMR-VWI) has been used to explore vascular diseases such as vasculitis and vulnerable plaque of intracranial arteries. Although vessel wall inflammation is suspected as one of the causes of cerebral arterial dissection, there have been few reports regarding the application of HRMR-VWI to arterial dissection. We have therefore evaluated the efficacy of HRMR-VWI in patients with vertebrobasilar artery dissection. HRMR-VWI was performed on 5 patients who had been diagnosed with nonhemorrhagic vertebrobasilar artery dissection. Four patients exhibited vessel wall enhancement on HRMR-VWI, the range of which corresponded with the dissection sites identified by cerebral angiogram, magnetic resonance imaging, or magnetic resonance angiography. The enhancements observed in all cases were extensive as compared with the findings of conventional angiography. HRMR-VWI is thought to elucidate the condition of the affected vessel wall more in detail as compared with conventional methods.