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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
Published on: November 20, 2015
Intracranial atherosclerosis: correlation between in-vivo 3T high resolution MRI and pathology
Tanya N Turan1, Zoran Rumboldt2, Ann-Charlotte Granholm3
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Background:
High-resolution MRI (HRMRI) is a promising tool for studying intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) in-vivo, but its use to understand the pathophysiology of ICAD has been limited by a lack of correlation between MRI signal characteristics and pathology in intracranial arteries.
Description Of Case:
A patient with symptomatic left cavernous carotid stenosis underwent 3T HRMRI and died 4 days later. In-vivo HRMRI and postmortem histopathology images were compared. MRI signal characteristics consistent with atherosclerotic plaque composed of lipid and loose matrix, fibrous tissue, and calcium were correlated with pathology findings. Intraplaque hemorrhage was not present on HRMRI or pathology.
Conclusions:
This report demonstrates correlation between atherosclerotic plaque components visualized on 3T HRMRI images obtained in-vivo and pathological specimens of a symptomatic ICAD plaque, providing an important step in developing HRMRI as an in-vivo research tool to understand ICAD pathology.
Insights
High-resolution MRI (HRMRI) can now visualize atherosclerotic plaque components in intracranial arteries. This breakthrough aids in understanding intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) pathology in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- High-resolution MRI (HRMRI) shows potential for in vivo study of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD).
- Previous limitations in correlating MRI signal characteristics with intracranial artery pathology hindered research.
- Understanding ICAD pathophysiology requires direct links between imaging and tissue findings.
Observation:
- A patient with symptomatic left cavernous carotid stenosis underwent 3T HRMRI.
- In vivo HRMRI and postmortem histopathology images were compared.
- MRI signal characteristics were correlated with atherosclerotic plaque components and pathology.
Findings:
- MRI signal characteristics correlated with lipid/loose matrix, fibrous tissue, and calcium in atherosclerotic plaques.
- No intraplaque hemorrhage was detected on either HRMRI or pathology.
- Demonstrated correlation between in vivo 3T HRMRI plaque visualization and pathological specimens.
Implications:
- This study establishes a crucial link between HRMRI findings and ICAD plaque composition.
- It advances HRMRI as a viable in vivo research tool for ICAD.
- Further research can leverage this correlation to deepen the understanding of ICAD pathology.
