[Use of microangiography in postmortem angiographic examination of the brain]

By means of microangiography investigations of small blood vessels were carried out postmortem in cases of brain strokes. It was observed that a part of the precapillary and capillary vessels had irregular, tortuous course, formed "glomeruli" or intertwinning patterns. Histological examinations of the same sections done by means of conventional methods showed very intense changes in the vascular walls in the form of their striking fibrosis and hyalinization. These changes were, most probably, responsible for the changed course of small brain vessels in old people. Microangiography is a method making possible observation of small precapillary and capillary vessels, assessment of their course under physiological and pathological conditions, demonstrating changes in their lumen (narrowing or occlusion). In serial sections it could be possible to determine accurately the range of tissue supplied by different vessels.