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Sickle cell cerebrovascular disease: usual and unusual findings on MR imaging and MR angiography

Toshio Moritani1, Yuji Numaguchi, Norma B Lemer

  • 1Department of Radiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 648, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. moritani2001@yahoo.com

Clinical Imaging
|May 26, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) reveals common and rare signs of sickle cell cerebrovascular disease. MRI and MR angiography (MRA) help understand stroke causes and monitor transfusion therapy effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder that can lead to serious cerebrovascular complications.
  • Cerebrovascular disease in SCD encompasses a range of conditions affecting blood vessels in the brain.
  • Early detection and monitoring are crucial for managing SCD-related neurological issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate typical and atypical findings on various Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) sequences in patients with sickle cell cerebrovascular disease.
  • To correlate MR imaging findings with the underlying pathophysiology of cerebrovascular complications in SCD.
  • To assess the utility of MRI and MR angiography (MRA) in evaluating stroke and monitoring the efficacy of chronic transfusion therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of MR imaging (MRI) data from 30 patients diagnosed with sickle cell cerebrovascular disease.
  • Inclusion of various MRI sequences: fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), and MR angiography (MRA).
  • Correlation of imaging findings with clinical data and long-term follow-up, including cases undergoing transfusion therapy.

Main Results:

  • Detailed presentation of both common and uncommon MR imaging findings associated with sickle cell cerebrovascular disease.
  • Illustration of how specific MR findings reflect the pathophysiology, such as vasculopathy, stroke, and silent infarcts.
  • Demonstration of MRI and MRA's capability to visualize vascular changes and track disease progression or response to treatment.

Conclusions:

  • MRI, including FLAIR, DWI, PWI, and MRA, is a valuable tool for diagnosing and characterizing cerebrovascular disease in sickle cell patients.
  • MR imaging findings provide insights into the pathophysiology of stroke and other neurological complications in SCD.
  • MRI and MRA are effective for assessing the impact of chronic transfusion therapy on cerebrovascular health in SCD.

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