Redistribution of cerebropetal blood flow in patients with carotid artery stenosis measured non-invasively with fast cine phase contrast MR angiography.
The purpose was to evaluate the blood flow redistribution in the neck vessels of patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. Eighty-six patients with ICA stenosis underwent contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) and fast 2D phase contrast (2D-PC) sequence to measure the mean blood flow (MBF) of ICA, basilar artery (BA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA). CEMRA revealed 53 severe stenoses, 45 moderate stenoses and 3 occluded vessels. Patients with a unilateral severe ICA stenosis had a significantly reduced MBF of the ICA compared to the control group; the MBF reduction of the severely stenosed ICA was less conspicuous if associated with a controlateral severe stenosis. The MBF of the BA increased significantly in the presence of the bilateral severe ICA stenosis and in the ICA occlusion. The MBF of the MCA was unchanged in the presence of various degrees of ICA stenosis. Measurement of MBF with fast PC MRA permits cerebropethal blood flow assessment and gives additional information in grading ICA stenosis. The reduced MBF of a severe ICA stenosis has to be considered with caution since it depends also on the status of the controlateral ICA and may be considered a confident parameter only in case of unilateral carotid stenosis.
Cosottini
Mirco
M
Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Via Roma no 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy. mircocosottini@libero.it
Pingitore
Alessandro
A
Michelassi
Maria Chiara
MC
Puglioli
Michele
M
Lazzarotti
Guido
G
Caniglia
Michele
M
Parenti
Giuliano
G
Bartolozzi
Carlo
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003287:Contrast Media