PURPOSE: To investigate basilar artery atherosclerotic plaque distribution characteristics in symptomatic patients using 3.0T high-resolution MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with recent ischemic strokes or transient ischemic attacks were included. Conventional angiographic luminal imaging of these patients showed at least 30% basilar artery stenosis. Patients then underwent basilar artery high-resolution MRI examinations (T2WI, T1WI and post-contrast enhanced T1WI in short axial and long axial views). The narrowest lumen plaque distribution was evaluated by cross-section division into four equal arcs (right, ventral, left and dorsal arcs) on the short axial T2-weighted images. The percent plaque fraction was calculated as arc plaque area/luminal area×100, with each compared by analysis. RESULTS: The basilar artery lumens and walls were clearly shown in all 38 patients. The median plaque area sizes were 2.73mm(2) (range: 1.04-5.29mm(2)) on the ventral wall, 0.59mm(2) (range: 0-1.50mm(2)) on the left wall, 0.87mm(2) (range: 0-2.68mm(2)) on the dorsal wall, and 0.36mm(2) (range: 0-1.80mm(2)) on the right wall. The mean plaque fraction percentages were 21.6% (range: 7.9-34.0%) on the ventral wall, 4.6% (range: 0-10.0%) on the left wall, 6.3% (range: 0-16.3%) on the dorsal wall, and 2.6% (range: 0-12.9%) on the right wall. On the ventral wall, the plaque fraction percentage was significantly greater than the remaining three arcs (P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Basilar artery atherosclerotic plaques were mainly distributed at the ventral site of the artery. High-resolution MR examination may provide helpful information to minimize endovascular therapy risk complications in basilar artery atherosclerotic disease. Crown
PURPOSE: To investigate basilar artery atherosclerotic plaque distribution characteristics in symptomatic patients using 3.0T high-resolution MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with recent ischemic strokes or transient ischemic attacks were included. Conventional angiographic luminal imaging of these patients showed at least 30% basilar artery stenosis. Patients then underwent basilar artery high-resolution MRI examinations (T2WI, T1WI and post-contrast enhanced T1WI in short axial and long axial views). The narrowest lumen plaque distribution was evaluated by cross-section division into four equal arcs (right, ventral, left and dorsal arcs) on the short axial T2-weighted images. The percent plaque fraction was calculated as arc plaque area/luminal area×100, with each compared by analysis. RESULTS: The basilar artery lumens and walls were clearly shown in all 38 patients. The median plaque area sizes were 2.73mm(2) (range: 1.04-5.29mm(2)) on the ventral wall, 0.59mm(2) (range: 0-1.50mm(2)) on the left wall, 0.87mm(2) (range: 0-2.68mm(2)) on the dorsal wall, and 0.36mm(2) (range: 0-1.80mm(2)) on the right wall. The mean plaque fraction percentages were 21.6% (range: 7.9-34.0%) on the ventral wall, 4.6% (range: 0-10.0%) on the left wall, 6.3% (range: 0-16.3%) on the dorsal wall, and 2.6% (range: 0-12.9%) on the right wall. On the ventral wall, the plaque fraction percentage was significantly greater than the remaining three arcs (P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Basilar artery atherosclerotic plaques were mainly distributed at the ventral site of the artery. High-resolution MR examination may provide helpful information to minimize endovascular therapy risk complications in basilar artery atherosclerotic disease. Crown
Authors: C Zhu; X Tian; A J Degnan; Z Shi; X Zhang; L Chen; Z Teng; D Saloner; J Lu; Q Liu Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2018-05-24 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: D M Mandell; M Mossa-Basha; Y Qiao; C P Hess; F Hui; C Matouk; M H Johnson; M J A P Daemen; A Vossough; M Edjlali; D Saloner; S A Ansari; B A Wasserman; D J Mikulis Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2016-07-28 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Jae W Song; Brianna F Moon; Morgan P Burke; Srikant Kamesh Iyer; Mark A Elliott; Haochang Shou; Steven R Messé; Scott E Kasner; Laurie A Loevner; Mitchell D Schnall; John E Kirsch; Walter R Witschey; Zhaoyang Fan Journal: J Neuroimaging Date: 2020-05-11 Impact factor: 2.486