Application Of3.0T High-resolution MRI In Intracranial Atherosclerotic Arterial Stenosis

Aim:To identify atherosclerotic plaque and observe the plaque distribution in middle cerebral artery(MCA) infarction and paramedian pontine infarction(PPI) using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging; Meanwhile, the two imaging methods were compared in MCA and BA.Methods:We collected23patients with middle cerebral artery infarction and21patients with paramedian pontine infarction, using MRA and high-resolution MRI to assess the presence of MCA and BA stenosis and the distribution of atherosclerotic plaque in the MCA and the BA. The two imaging methods of the detection rate of artery stenosis were compared in MCA and BA;We analyzed the relationship between the distribution of plaque and infarct location.Results:10cases (43.5%) were found arterial stenosis by MRA examination and20cases (86.9%) were revealed arterial stenosis by HRMRI examination in23cases of patients with middle cerebral artery territory infarction. The result shown striking difference between two methods which was a significant (P<0.01).20patients were found arterial plaque which was distributed in ventral、 inferior、 superior and dorsal in23patients.It was found that the ventral of plaques representing9cases (45%), inferior plaques5cases (25%), superior4(20%) and dorsal2cases (10%).8cases(narrowing rate38.1%)were found arterial stenosis by MRA examination and18cases (85.7%) were revealed arterial stenosis by HRMRI examination in21cases of patients with PPI.Two methods of detection of stenosis rate was distinct, there was a significant (P<0.01). Further studies showed that the plaques of16cases with basilar artery stenosis were mainly located in the ipsilateral infarction of18cases (88.9%), contralateral only two cases (11.1%).Conclusion:High-resolution MRI is more sensitive to detect MCA and BA stenosis compared with MRA imaging. The MCA atherosclerosis are mainly distribution in the ventral and the inferior of MCA infarction;The BA atherosclerosis are mainly distribution in the ipsilateral of paramedian pontine infarction.