Cakmakci Emin, Ozal Safiye Tokgoz, Ogutcu Esra Karabay, Aydin Alper, Tunc Suzan, Kaygusuz Umut, Cinar Hasibe Gokce
1 Department of Radiology, Dr. Sami Ulus Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Radiology, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey ; 3 Department of Radiology, Iskenderun Government Hospital, Iskenderun, Turkey ; 4 Department of Radiology, Giresun Prof. Dr. A. Ilhan Ozdemir Government Hospital, Giresun, Turkey ; 5 Department of Radiology, Malatya Government Hospital, Malatya, Turkey ; 6 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dr. Sami Ulus Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2015 Dec;5(6):846-52. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2223-4292.2015.09.02.
The aim of the current study was to investigate whether signal intensities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) views and radiological findings on Doppler ultrasonography may have a diagnostic value for vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI).
This case-control study was performed on demographic and radiologic data derived from 18 VBI patients and 58 healthy controls in the radiology department of a tertiary care center. The blood flow characteristics including peak systolic and end diastolic flow rates, resistance and pulsatility indices, mean velocities, flow rates, diameters and intensity pattern of vertebral arteries on cervical and cranial MRI sequences were noted. The association between blood flow characteristics and signal patterns on MRI views was investigated in VBI patients and controls.
Blood flow and vessel diameter were significantly decreased in VBI patients compared to controls on both sides (P<0.001). In contrast, other parameters did not exhibit any remarkable difference between VBI and control groups. The distribution of hypo- or hyperintense signals in VBI and control groups was similar. No remarkable variabilities were detected in blood flow characteristics of cases presenting with signals having different intensities on MRI sequences.
In conclusion, results of the current study have demonstrated that assessment of blood flow and vascular diameter may be important for ruling in VBI. Nevertheless, the intensity of signals derived from vessels seems not reveal any data of diagnostic significance in these cases. Further studies on larger populations may allow development and exploration of newer diagnostic techniques and clues for VBI.
本研究旨在探讨磁共振成像（MRI）图像上的信号强度以及多普勒超声检查的影像学表现对椎基底动脉供血不足（VBI）是否具有诊断价值。
本病例对照研究对一家三级医疗中心放射科的18例VBI患者和58例健康对照者的人口统计学和放射学数据进行了分析。记录了颈椎和颅脑MRI序列上椎动脉的血流特征，包括收缩期峰值流速、舒张末期流速、阻力指数、搏动指数、平均流速、血流量、血管直径及信号强度模式。研究了VBI患者和对照组中血流特征与MRI图像信号模式之间的关联。
与对照组相比，VBI患者双侧的血流和血管直径均显著降低（P<0.001）。相比之下，VBI组和对照组的其他参数没有显著差异。VBI组和对照组中低信号或高信号的分布相似。在MRI序列上信号强度不同的病例中，未检测到血流特征有明显差异。
总之，本研究结果表明，评估血流和血管直径对诊断VBI可能很重要。然而，血管信号强度在这些病例中似乎没有显示出任何具有诊断意义的数据。对更大样本量人群的进一步研究可能有助于开发和探索VBI的更新诊断技术及线索。
