A non-invasive technique for visualization of microvessels in asymptomatic patients with middle cerebral artery steno-occlusion

• Published in: Vascular medicine (London, England) Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 314 - 317
• Main Authors: Lee, Yeong-Bae, Kang, Chang-Ki, Kim, Ki-Tae, Park, Chan-A, Kim, Young-Bo, Cho, Zang-Hee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2013; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Angiography, Digital Subtraction; Collateral Circulation; Female; Humans; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - diagnosis; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Microvessels - diagnostic imaging; Microvessels - pathology; Moyamoya Disease - diagnosis; 7T MRA; middle cerebral artery steno-occlusion; asymptomatic; collaterals; microvessels
• ISSN: 1358-863X; 1477-0377
• DOI: 10.1177/1358863X13507991

We determined whether 7T magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) could be used for clearly observing microvessels in a clinically asymptomatic patient with steno-occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). We utilized 3T magnetic resonance imaging to obtain the brain images of a clinically asymptomatic patient and noted MCA steno-occlusion. In comparison with 3T MRA, 7T MRA could clearly delineate the microvessels, including lenticulostriate arteries and presumed collaterals, and our observation was comparable to that with conventional digital subtraction angiography. We report an interesting case of a clinically asymptomatic patient with MCA steno-occlusion.