Three-dimensional vessel wall imaging with 1.5-T MRI to visualize invisible occluded cerebral artery

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is performed for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion; therefore, preoperative visualization of the occluded invisible vessel course reduces complications and ensures success. Three-dimensional (3D) proton density-weighted (PDW) vessel wall imaging (VWI) using variable refocusing flip angle pulse-turbo spin-echo sequences (VRFA-TSE) with 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide this information.

To assess the effectiveness of 3D PDW-VWI using 1.5-T MRI without VRFA function.

Five consecutive patients with AIS caused by large vessel occlusion underwent EVT in our institute. VWI with 1.5-T MRI using 3D PDW-fast spin echo (FSE) technique was added to conventional brain imaging.

PDW-FSE was successfully performed in all cases. 3D PDW-FSE was useful to visualize both the anterior and posterior circulations by clearly revealing invisible vessels but could not demonstrate the length and size of the clot in all five cases.

3D PDW-FSE with 1.5-T MRI without VRFA could clearly depict the course of the invisible occluded artery and might support favorable outcomes after EVT in patients with AIS.