Diffusion-weighted imaging of intramural hematoma in vertebral artery dissection.
OBJECTIVE
Dissections of the carotid and vertebral arteries can be detected by several imaging modalities, but there is yet no consensus on the most efficient and effective choice.


METHODS
We performed diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in four patients with vertebral artery dissection documented with T2- and T1-weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and conventional angiography. Intervals from the onset of headache to evaluation ranged from one day to two weeks.


RESULTS
All the patients showed high signal intensity within the affected vertebral artery on DWI.


CONCLUSIONS
The movements of water molecules are more or less restricted within the clots according to the stage of thrombus formation in arterial dissection. Our study may provide another potential imaging method in the difficult task of proving arterial dissection.
Choi
Kwang-Dong
KD
Department of Neurology, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Seo-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Jo
Jae-Wook
JW
Park
Kyung-Pil
KP
Kim
Ji Soo
JS
Lee
Tae-Hong
TH
Kim
Hak Jin
HJ
Jung
Dae Soo
DS
D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*