High-Resolution Intracranial Vessel Wall MRI Findings Among Different Middle Cerebral Artery Territory Infarction Types

• Published in: Korean journal of radiology Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 333 - 342
• Main Authors: Won, So Yeon, Cha, Jihoon, Choi, Hyun Seok, Kim, Young Dae, Nam, Hyo Suk, Heo, Ji Hoe, Lee, Seung-Koo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Radiology 01.03.2022; 대한영상의학회
• Subjects: Atherosclerosis; Constriction, Pathologic; Embolisms; Humans; Infarction; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery - diagnostic imaging; Magnetic Resonance Angiography - methods; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Middle Cerebral Artery - diagnostic imaging; Neurointervention; Patients; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diagnostic imaging; Retrospective Studies; Veins & arteries; 방사선과학; Artery-to-artery embolism; Vessel wall MRI; Branch occlusive disease; Middle cerebral artery infarction; Atherosclerosis
• DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2021.0615
• ISSN: 1229-6929; 2005-8330

Intracranial atherosclerotic stroke occurs through various mechanisms, mainly by artery-to-artery embolism (AA) or branch occlusive disease (BOD). This study evaluated the spatial relationship between middle cerebral artery (MCA) plaques and perforating arteries among different MCA territory infarction types using vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI). We retrospectively enrolled patients with acute MCA infarction who underwent VW-MRI. Thirty-four patients were divided into three groups according to infarction pattern: 1) BOD, 2) both BOD and AA (BOD-AA), and 3) AA. To determine the factors related to BOD, the BOD and BOD-AA groups were combined into one group (with striatocapsular infarction [BOD+]) and compared with the AA group. To determine the factors related to AA, the BOD-AA and AA groups were combined into another group (with cortical infarction [AA+]) and compared with the BOD group. Plaque morphology and the spatial relationship between the perforating artery orifice and plaque were evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. The plaque margin in the BOD+ group was closer to the perforating artery orifice than that in the AA group ( = 0.011), with less enhancing plaque ( = 0.030). In the BOD group, plaques were mainly located on the dorsal (41.2%) and superior (41.2%) sides where the perforating arteries mainly arose. No patient in the AA group had overlapping plaques with perforating arteries at the cross-section where the perforator arose. Perforating arteries associated with culprit plaques were most frequently located in the middle two-thirds of the M1 segment (41.4%). The AA+ group had more stenosis (%) than the BOD group (39.73 ± 24.52 vs. 14.42 ± 20.96; = 0.003). The spatial relationship between the perforating artery orifice and plaque varied among different types of MCA territory infarctions. In patients with BOD, the plaque margin was closer and blocked the perforating artery orifice, and stenosis degree and enhancement were less than those in patients with AA.