Diagnostic value of HR-MRI and DCE-MRI in unilateral middle cerebral artery inflammatory stenosis
Guo-Chang Wang1, Yu-Jing Chen1, Xu-Ran Feng1
1Department of Radiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Purpose:
High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has high spatial resolution and can simultaneously perform wall and lumen imaging. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) can evaluate the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. In this paper, the result of 3.0T HR-MRI and 3.0T DCE-MRI has been evaluated to explore the application value of unilateral middle cerebral artery inflammatory stenosis and changes in vascular permeability parameters of stroke events.
Methods:
Thirty-six cases of neurological suspicion of central nervous system vasculitis of our hospital were selected from 20 January 2018 to 1 January 2019, who were diagnosed as unilateral middle cerebral artery M1 stenosis/occlusion by 3D TOF MRA. 3.0T HR-MRI and 3.0T DCE-MRI has been applied.
Results:
Among the 36 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 23 patients with central nervous system vasculitis were diagnosed. The 23 patients with HR-MRI showed diffuse thickening and enhanced stenosis. The Ktrans value of 10/23 patients with acute-subacute cerebral infarction and 3/23 patients in chronic phase were significantly higher than that of the mirror side, and the Ktrans value of these patients remeasured in the same region of interest is lower than before after 6 months treatment. The Ktrans value in the target area of 10 patients without cerebrovascular events was not statistically significant compared with the mirror side. The Ktrans value of patients with acute-subacute cerebral infarction was significantly higher than that without cerebrovascular events (0.098 ± 0.038 vs. 0.007 ± 0.001, p = .000), and there was no significant difference between Ktrans in the chronic infarction group and the other two groups (0.098 ± 0.038 vs. 0.044 ± 0.012, p = .058; 0.044 ± 0.012 vs. 0.007 ± 0.001, p = .057).
Conclusion:
HR-MRI is an accurate direct imaging method and has a high value for the etiological diagnosis of central nervous system vasculitis. DCE-MRI could be an effective way to evaluate and monitor blood-brain barrier to prevent clinical ischemic stroke.
Insights
High-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) accurately diagnoses central nervous system vasculitis. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) effectively monitors blood-brain barrier changes to prevent ischemic stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Vascular Imaging
Background:
- Central nervous system vasculitis can lead to inflammatory stenosis of cerebral arteries.
- Assessing blood-brain barrier integrity is crucial for understanding stroke events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the application value of 3.0T HR-MRI and 3.0T DCE-MRI in diagnosing unilateral middle cerebral artery inflammatory stenosis.
- To explore changes in vascular permeability parameters associated with stroke events in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 36 patients with suspected central nervous system vasculitis.
- Diagnosis of unilateral middle cerebral artery M1 stenosis/occlusion using 3D TOF MRA.
- Application of 3.0T HR-MRI and 3.0T DCE-MRI for imaging and parameter assessment.
Main Results:
- HR-MRI revealed diffuse thickening and enhanced stenosis in 23 diagnosed vasculitis patients.
- Elevated Ktrans values (indicating increased permeability) were observed in acute-subacute cerebral infarction patients compared to controls.
- Ktrans values decreased after treatment in patients with acute-subacute infarction.
Conclusions:
- HR-MRI is a valuable tool for the etiological diagnosis of central nervous system vasculitis.
- DCE-MRI effectively evaluates and monitors blood-brain barrier integrity, aiding in the prevention of ischemic stroke.
