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Diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis

Gayle Rebovich1, Ennis Jesus Duffis, Louis R Caplan

  • 1Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Stroke Division, Boston, MA, USA +617 632 8911 lcaplan@bidmc.harvard.edu.

Expert Opinion on Medical Diagnostics
|March 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Accurate diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis, a leading cause of stroke, is crucial. Non-invasive imaging is effective for ruling out the condition, but catheter angiography remains the definitive diagnostic standard.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Vascular Neurology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Intracranial atherosclerosis is a growing global cause of stroke.
  • Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical and radiographic diagnostic methods for intracranial atherosclerosis.
  • To provide an overview of available invasive and non-invasive detection techniques.

Main Methods:

  • Review of transcranial Doppler (TCD).
  • Review of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
  • Review of computed tomography angiography (CTA).
  • Review of conventional angiography.

Main Results:

  • Familiarization with the advantages and limitations of various imaging modalities.
  • Understanding the diagnostic capabilities of TCD, MRA, CTA, and conventional angiography.

Conclusions:

  • Non-invasive imaging shows high negative predictive value for intracranial atherosclerosis.
  • Catheter angiography is the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis.
Abstract

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