No abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 3D FSE T1WI has recently been used for carotid plaque imaging, given the potential advantages in contrast and spatial resolutions. However, its diagnostic performance remains unclear. Hence, we compared the ability of this technique to readily assess plaque characteristics with that of conventional images and validated the results with histologic classification.

Background: Recent advances in high-resolution (HR) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using ultrahigh-field systems enable direct visualization of the lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs), which had been hardly achieved by conventional MRA. Hence, by using HR-MRA at 7 T, we attempted to assess occlusive changes in the LSAs in patients with LSA territorial infarcts. Methods: We prospectively examined 34 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in the LSA territory using a 7 T scanner. We measured the lengths of the relevant LSAs on HR-MRA and the diameters/volume of the infarcts and compared these between the patients with/without occlusive changes in the LSAs. Results: On HR-MRA, occlusion of the LSAs was observed in 19 (59%) of 32 patients who were eligible for the analyses. The curved/straight lengths of the LSAs in the patients with LSA occlusion (23.1-31.1/17.8-24.3 mm) were significantly shorter than in those without apparent LSA occlusion (25.8-39.5/24.0-30.4 mm) (P ¼ 0.027/0.003). The anteroposterior/ superoinferior diameters of the infarcts were significantly larger in the occluded-LSA group (14.5-21.4/14.9-22.2 mm) than in the intact-LSA group (

The VBM-based CSF space analysis can detect disproportionate changes in CSF space and differentiate iNPH patients from those with AD or PD and healthy elderlies accurately.

Background Occluded major intracranial arteries can spontaneously recanalize in patients with acute ischemic stroke mainly due to embolic mechanisms. However, it remains unknown whether recanalization can occur in perforating arteries, such as lenticulostriate arteries. Therefore, in the present study, we assessed changes suggesting recanalization of the lenticulostriate arteries in patients with acute ischemic stroke of the lenticulostriate artery territory using high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography (HR-MRA) at 7T. Methods We prospectively examined 39 consecutive patients with acute infarcts confined within the lenticulostriate artery territory. Using a 7T scanner during the acute period and one month thereafter, we evaluated imaging findings indicating the recanalization of the relevant lenticulostriate arteries, following which we examined differences in other imaging findings and clinical characteristics between patients with/without recanalization. Results HR-MRA findings suggestive of recanalization (i.e. patent lenticulostriate arteries within acute infarct lesions with/without hemorrhagic changes) were observed in 8 (25%) of 32 patients who were eligible for analyses. These findings were detected in three and five patients on the baseline and follow-up images, respectively. The lengths of relevant lenticulostriate arteries on the follow-up MRA were significantly larger in patients with recanalization than in those without ( P = 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in the infarct volume or clinical outcomes between the recanalization and non-recanalization groups. Conclusion HR-MRA at 7T revealed that recanalization of the relevant lenticulostriate arteries can occur in patients with acute ischemic stroke confined to the lenticulostriate artery territory.