EXPRESS: Hemodynamic Analysis of Lenticulostriate Artery Dilation in MCA Atherosclerotic Stenosis
Chao Zhang1,2,3, Tong Chen1,2,3,4, Xun Pei1,2,3,5
1Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To investigate the perfusion changes associated with lenticulostriate artery (LSA) dilation in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) atherosclerosis utilizing 7.0T MRI and CT perfusion imaging (CTP).
Methods:
Forty-eight symptomatic atherosclerotic MCA plaques were analyzed. All patients underwent 7.0T MRI and CTP examinations. LSA dilation was defined as a markedly enlarged vessel diameter comparable to that of MCA M3/M4 segments. The stenotic MCAs were divided into LSA dilation group (n=21) and non-dilation group (n=27). Plaque characteristics, LSA morphological features, and perfusion parameters in the LSA territory were assessed.
Results:
Compared with the non-dilation group, the LSA dilation group showed significantly higher cerebral blood flow/relative cerebral blood flow (CBF/rCBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV), and a markedly prolonged mean transit time (MTT) in the LSA-supplied regions (all p < 0.05). The incidence of infarction, superior-wall plaque, and plaque involving the LSA origin was significantly higher in the LSA dilation group than in the non-dilation group (all p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
LSA dilation may indicate a compensatory vascular remodeling process, closely associated with plaque location. This phenomenon is accompanied by distinct hemodynamic alterations within its blood supply territory.
