Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Endovascular Perforation Model for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Combined with Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI
Published on: December 16, 2021
Pulsatility Assessment of Cerebral Perforating Arteries Using Submillimeter-Resolution Dual-VENC Phase-Contrast MRI
Jianing Tang1,2, Sang Hun Chung1, Maria Gamez1
1Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Background:
Dysfunction of cerebral perforating arteries is a major contributor to cerebral small vessel disease. Developing a reliable MRI technique for assessing cerebral perforating arteries on widely accessible 3T systems would be advantageous.
Purpose:
To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of dual-velocity encoding (dual-VENC) PC-MRI at 3T for assessing pulsatility of cerebral perforating arteries.
Study Type:
Prospective.
Subjects:
Twelve healthy young adults (2 female, 24.0 ± 3.99 years) and 31 older adults with and without vascular risk factors (21 female, 67.72 ± 8.48 years).
Field Strength/Sequence:
Dual-VENC 2D PC-MRI at 3T and 7T.
Assessment:
The number of perforators (Nperforator) and pulsatility index (PI) measured using 3T dual-VENC PC-MRI were evaluated through test-retest and comparison against those by 7T dual-VENC PC-MRI on the younger participants. The associations of PI and Nperforator with age, cognition, and vascular risk factors were investigated in the elderly cohort.
Statistical Tests:
Paired t-tests, two-sample t-tests, Bland-Altman analysis, coefficient of variation (CV), Shapiro-Wilk Test, one-way ANOVA, and multivariable regression models. Significance level: 0.05.
Results:
3T dual-VENC PC-MRI provided better reproducibility with CV values of 10% and 14% for PI and Nperforator, respectively, compared to single VENCs (high VENC: 21% and 21%, low VENC: 13% and 14%). 3T dual-VENC PC-MRI showed no significant difference in Nperforator and PI measurements with 7T dual-VENC (p = 0.16, 0.38, respectively). Among the older participants, aging and cognitive impairment were both significantly associated with increased PI but not with Nperforator (p = 0.17 and 0.365); global vascular risk burden, as well as individual vascular risk factors, including pulse pressure and hypercholesterolemia, showed a significant association with PI but not with Nperforator (p = 0.858, 0.345, and 0.476).
Data Conclusion:
3T dual-VENC PC-MRI provides high-fidelity pulsatility assessment of cerebral perforating arteries and may be a useful tool at widely accessible 3T.
Level Of Evidence:
Level 2.
Technical Efficacy:
Stage 2.
