Basilar artery atherosclerotic plaques distribution in symptomatic patients: A 3.0T high-resolution MRI study

• Published in: European journal of radiology 2013-04, Vol.82 (4), p.e199-e203
• Main Authors: Huang, Biao, Yang, Wan-Qun, Liu, Xin-Tong, Liu, Hong-Jun, Li, Pei-Jun, Lu, Hai-Ke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Basilar artery; Contrast Media; Female; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Intracranial arteriosclerosis; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis - complications; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis - diagnosis; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis - pathology; Ischemic Attack, Transient - etiology; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; MR angiography; Plaque atherosclerotic; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - pathology; Stroke - etiology; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency - complications; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency - diagnosis; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency - pathology
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.10.031

To investigate basilar artery atherosclerotic plaque distribution characteristics in symptomatic patients using 3.0T high-resolution MRI. 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. The basilar artery lumens and walls were clearly shown in all 38 patients. The median plaque area sizes were 2.73mm2 (range: 1.04–5.29mm2) on the ventral wall, 0.59mm2 (range: 0–1.50mm2) on the left wall, 0.87mm2 (range: 0–2.68mm2) on the dorsal wall, and 0.36mm2 (range: 0–1.80mm2) 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). 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.