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Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases
Published on: December 6, 2016
MR-based techniques for intracortical vessel visualization and characterization: understanding the impact of
Maximilian T Löffler1,2,3, Po-Hung Wu1, Galateia J Kazakia1
1Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, California 94107, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
The relationships between bone vasculature and bone microstructure and strength remain incompletely understood. Addressing this gap will require in vivo imaging capabilities. We describe the relevant vascular anatomy of compact bone, review current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based techniques that allow in vivo assessment of intracortical vasculature, and finally present preliminary studies that apply these techniques to investigate changes in intracortical vessels in aging and disease.
Recent Findings:
Ultra-short echo time MRI (UTE MRI), dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), and susceptibility-weighted MRI techniques are able to probe intracortical vasculature. Applied to patients with type 2 diabetes, DCE-MRI was able to find significantly larger intracortical vessels compared to nondiabetic controls. Using the same technique, a significantly larger number of smaller vessels was observed in patients with microvascular disease compared to those without. Preliminary data on perfusion MRI showed decreased cortical perfusion with age.
Summary:
Development of in vivo techniques for intracortical vessel visualization and characterization will enable the exploration of interactions between the vascular and skeletal systems, and further our understanding of drivers of cortical pore expansion. As we investigate potential pathways of cortical pore expansion, appropriate treatment and prevention strategies will be clarified.
