title: Neuroradiological findings in vascular dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are multiple diagnostic criteria for vascular dementia (VaD) that may define different populations. Utilizing the criteria of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN) has provided improved consistency in the diagnosis of VaD. The criteria include a table listing brain imaging lesions associated with VaD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The different neuroradiological aspects of the criteria are reviewed based on the imaging data from an ongoing large-scale clinical trial testing a new treatment for VaD. The NINDS-AIREN criteria were applied by a centralized imaging rater to determine eligibility for enrollment in 1,202 patients using brain CT or MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the above data set, the neuroradiological features that are associated with VaD and that can result from cerebral small-vessel disease with extensive leukoencephalopathy or lacunae (basal ganglia or frontal white matter), or may be the consequence of single strategically located infarcts or multiple infarcts in large-vessel territories, are illustrated. These features may also be the consequence of global cerebral hypoperfusion, intracerebral hemorrhage, or other mechanisms such as genetically determined arteriopathies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuroimaging confirmation of cerebrovascular disease in VaD provides information about the topography and severity of vascular lesions. Neuroimaging may also assist with the differential diagnosis of dementia associated with normal pressure hydrocephalus, chronic subdural hematoma, arteriovenous malformation or tumoral diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology Services, Synarc Inc., 575 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. ali.guermazi@synarc.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guermazi
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miaux
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira-Cañellas
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suhy
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pauls
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Posner
mesh_terms: D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009485:Neuroradiography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed