Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High-resolution MR imaging is an emerging tool for evaluating intracranial artery disease. It has an advantage of defining vessel wall characteristics of intracranial vascular diseases. We investigated high-resolution MR imaging arterial wall characteristics of CNS vasculitis and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome to determine wall pattern changes during a follow-up period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 3T-high-resolution MR imaging vessel wall studies performed on 26 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CNS vasculitis and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome during a follow-up period. Vessel wall imaging protocol included black-blood contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences with fat suppression and a saturation band, and time-of-flight MRA of the circle of Willis. Vessel wall characteristics including enhancement, wall thickening, and lumen narrowing were collected. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with CNS vasculitis and 13 patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome were included. In the CNS vasculitis group, 9 patients showed smooth, concentric wall enhancement and thickening; 3 patients had smooth, eccentric wall enhancement and thickening; and 1 patient was without wall enhancement and thickening. Six of 13 patients had follow-up imaging; 4 patients showed stable smooth, concentric enhancement and thickening; and 2 patients had resoluton of initial imaging findings. In the reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome group, 10 patients showed diffuse, uniform wall thickening with negligible-to-mild enhancement. Nine patients had follow-up imaging, with 8 patients showing complete resolution of the initial findings. CONCLUSIONS: Postgadolinium 3T-high-resolution MR imaging appears to be a feasible tool in differentiating vessel wall patterns of CNS vasculitis and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome changes during a follow-up period.
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Authors | E C Obusez, F Hui, R A Hajj-Ali, R Cerejo, L H Calabrese, T Hammad, S E Jones |
Journal | AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
(AJNR Am J Neuroradiol)
Vol. 35
Issue 8
Pg. 1527-32
(Aug 2014)
ISSN: 1936-959X [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 24722305
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | © 2014 by American Journal of Neuroradiology. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Cerebrovascular Disorders
(pathology)
- Female
- Humans
- Magnetic Resonance Angiography
(methods)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(methods)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Vasculitis, Central Nervous System
(pathology)
- Vasoconstriction
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