High-resolution Magnetic Resonance Vessel Wall Imaging for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis
Xian-Jin Zhu1, Wu Wang1, Zun-Jing Liu2
1Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
Insights
High-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HRMR VWI) offers valuable insights into intracranial arterial stenosis. This technique aids in diagnosing causes, predicting stroke risk, and guiding treatment for various vascular conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
Background:
- Intracranial arterial stenosis poses a significant risk for stroke.
- Accurate characterization of vessel wall pathology is crucial for effective management.
- Current imaging modalities may have limitations in visualizing subtle vessel wall changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HRMR VWI) for intracranial arterial stenosis.
- To review the capabilities of HRMR VWI in differentiating various intracranial vasculopathies.
- To explore the role of HRMR VWI in guiding therapeutic decisions.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed database up to December 2015.
- Keywords included vessel wall imaging (VWI), high-resolution MRI, intracranial arterial stenosis, black blood, and intracranial atherosclerosis.
- Peer-reviewed English articles focusing on VWI techniques and findings in intracranial vasculopathies were reviewed.
Main Results:
- HRMR VWI, utilizing black blood techniques, provides high-quality, submillimeter resolution images of intracranial arteries.
- The technique simultaneously visualizes the vessel wall and lumen, revealing differentiating features of atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic vasculopathies.
- Findings include patterns of wall thickening, enhancement, and vessel remodeling, aiding in stroke mechanism identification and risk stratification.
Conclusions:
- HRMR VWI demonstrates significant clinical value in discriminating between different intracranial vasculopathies.
- This advanced imaging technique is instrumental in directing therapeutic management for patients with intracranial arterial stenosis.
- A novel morphological classification based on VWI may predict the effectiveness of endovascular therapy.
Objective:
To discuss the feasibility and clinical value of high-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HRMR VWI) for intracranial arterial stenosis.
Date Sources:
We retrieved information from PubMed database up to December 2015, using various search terms including vessel wall imaging (VWI), high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging, intracranial arterial stenosis, black blood, and intracranial atherosclerosis.
Study Selection:
We reviewed peer-reviewed articles printed in English on imaging technique of VWI and characteristic findings of various intracranial vasculopathies on VWI. We organized this data to explain the value of VWI in clinical application.
Results:
VWI with black blood technique could provide high-quality images with submillimeter voxel size, and display both the vessel wall and lumen of intracranial artery simultaneously. Various intracranial vasculopathies (atherosclerotic or nonatherosclerotic) had differentiating features including pattern of wall thickening, enhancement, and vessel remodeling on VWI. This technique could be used for determining causes of stenosis, identification of stroke mechanism, risk-stratifying patients, and directing therapeutic management in clinical practice. In addition, a new morphological classification based on VWI could be established for predicting the efficacy of endovascular therapy.
Conclusions:
This review highlights the value of HRMR VWI for discrimination of different intracranial vasculopathies and directing therapeutic management.
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