BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) has been shown to be more sensitive in detecting cerebral microbleeds (MBs) than is conventional T2*-weighted gradient-recalled echo imaging (GRE). However, the clinical relevance of this improved detection in terms of associations with clinical measures and risk factors is unclear. We sought to determine whether associations of MBs with clinical characteristics, risk factors, white-matter hyperintensities, and lacunes were different on GRE versus SWI in memory clinic patients. METHODS: One hundred forty-one patients presenting at our memory clinic were included and underwent clinical evaluation and a magnetic resonance imaging protocol including both GRE and SWI. Images were analyzed for numbers and locations of MBs and white-matter hyperintensities. In a subset of patients, apolipoprotein E status was determined. Negative binomial regression was used to assess clinical and radiologic associations with MB number. RESULTS: MB prevalence was 23% on GRE and 40% on SWI. A total of 219 and 284 MBs were detected on GRE and SWI, respectively. Within groups with MBs, the median MB count was 1 (range, 1 to 144) on GRE and 2 (range, 1 to 129) on SWI (P<0.001). The increase in the number of MBs on SWI was equally distributed among brain regions. Strengths of the associations with age, sex, white-matter hyperintensities, and presence of lacunes with higher MB numbers were comparable for GRE and SWI (all P<0.05); no differential independent associations were detected. CONCLUSIONS: SWI detected more MBs in more patients, irrespective of MB location. However, this enhanced detection had no improved clinical relevance in terms of associations with vascular risk factors or radiologic markers of small-vessel disease.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) has been shown to be more sensitive in detecting cerebral microbleeds (MBs) than is conventional T2*-weighted gradient-recalled echo imaging (GRE). However, the clinical relevance of this improved detection in terms of associations with clinical measures and risk factors is unclear. We sought to determine whether associations of MBs with clinical characteristics, risk factors, white-matter hyperintensities, and lacunes were different on GRE versus SWI in memory clinic patients. METHODS: One hundred forty-one patients presenting at our memory clinic were included and underwent clinical evaluation and a magnetic resonance imaging protocol including both GRE and SWI. Images were analyzed for numbers and locations of MBs and white-matter hyperintensities. In a subset of patients, apolipoprotein E status was determined. Negative binomial regression was used to assess clinical and radiologic associations with MB number. RESULTS: MB prevalence was 23% on GRE and 40% on SWI. A total of 219 and 284 MBs were detected on GRE and SWI, respectively. Within groups with MBs, the median MB count was 1 (range, 1 to 144) on GRE and 2 (range, 1 to 129) on SWI (P<0.001). The increase in the number of MBs on SWI was equally distributed among brain regions. Strengths of the associations with age, sex, white-matter hyperintensities, and presence of lacunes with higher MB numbers were comparable for GRE and SWI (all P<0.05); no differential independent associations were detected. CONCLUSIONS: SWI detected more MBs in more patients, irrespective of MB location. However, this enhanced detection had no improved clinical relevance in terms of associations with vascular risk factors or radiologic markers of small-vessel disease.
Authors: Sven Haller; Max Scheffler; Rares Salomir; François R Herrmann; Gabriel Gold; Marie-Louise Montandon; Enikö Kövari Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2019-08-08 Impact factor: 2.804
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Authors: Shenandoah Robinson; Jacqueline B Berglass; Jesse L Denson; Justin Berkner; Christopher V Anstine; Jesse L Winer; Jessie R Maxwell; Jianhua Qiu; Yirong Yang; Laurel O Sillerud; William P Meehan; Rebekah Mannix; Lauren L Jantzie Journal: J Neurosci Res Date: 2016-07-25 Impact factor: 4.164
Authors: Carolin Gramsch; Sophia L Göricke; Felix Behrens; Lisa Zimmer; Dirk Schadendorf; Andrej Krasny; Michael Forsting; Marc U Schlamann Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2013-05-14 Impact factor: 5.315