Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Medical Science, Chonbuk National University Medical School, 634-18, Keumam-Dong, Jeonju-shi, Chonbuk 561-712, South Korea.
Eur J Radiol. 2012 Dec;81(12):4069-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.07.001. Epub 2012 Jul 28.
High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) has been used as an imaging modality to depict the intracranial artery wall. The aim of this study was to compare images of the vessel wall between symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using HRMRI.
From September 2009 to August 2010 we prospectively screened consecutive patients for MCA stenosis using time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography. We studied 14 patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis and 16 patients with asymptomatic MCA stenosis. The HRMRI protocol included three different scans: T1-, T2-, and proton density (PD)-weighted black blood MRI. The cross-sectional images of the MCA wall on HRMRI were compared between the two groups based on the degree of stenosis, remodeling ratio, outward or inward remodeling, plaque signal intensity, plaque surface irregularity, and presence of an intact inner wall.
The degree of MCA stenosis and the ratio of plaque thickening to patent lumen in the symptomatic group were significantly higher than in the asymptomatic group. Outward remodeling of the stenotic area in symptomatic group was significantly higher than that seen in the asymptomatic group, and the reverse was true for inward remodeling of the stenotic area (it was significantly higher in the asymptomatic group compared to the symptomatic group). T2- and PD-weighted high signal foci, eccentric wall thickening, and plaque volume in the stenotic area were all similar between the two groups.
HRMRI has the potential to distinguish between atherosclerotic plaques in symptomatic and asymptomatic MCA stenoses.
高分辨率磁共振成像（HRMRI）已被用作一种成像方式来描绘颅内动脉壁。本研究旨在通过 HRMRI 比较大脑中动脉（MCA）症状性和无症状性动脉粥样硬化斑块的血管壁图像。
从 2009 年 9 月至 2010 年 8 月，我们前瞻性地使用时间飞跃（TOF）磁共振血管造影筛查连续的 MCA 狭窄患者。我们研究了 14 例症状性 MCA 狭窄患者和 16 例无症状性 MCA 狭窄患者。HRMRI 方案包括三种不同的扫描：T1、T2 和质子密度（PD）加权黑血 MRI。根据狭窄程度、重塑比、外或内重塑、斑块信号强度、斑块表面不规则和完整的内壁，比较两组 MCA 壁的 HRMRI 横断图像。
MCA 狭窄程度和斑块增厚与管腔通畅的比值在症状组明显高于无症状组。症状组狭窄区的外重塑明显高于无症状组，而狭窄区的内重塑则相反（无症状组明显高于症状组）。T2 和 PD 加权高信号灶、偏心性壁增厚和狭窄区的斑块体积在两组间均相似。
HRMRI 有可能区分症状性和无症状性 MCA 狭窄的动脉粥样硬化斑块。
