Imaging and analysis of lenticulostriate arteries using 7.0-Tesla magnetic resonance angiography.
The purpose of this study was to analyze human lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) obtained non-invasively by 7.0-T MRI. A three-dimensional time-of-flight (3D TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique was used with an investigational 7.0-T MRI scanner with a radio-frequency coil that was optimized and designed for angiographic purposes. We obtained images from 16 healthy volunteers (8 males and 8 females, mean age 21 +/- 2.7 years). For direct comparison of LSA images with digital subtraction angiography (DSA), we also obtained 7.0-T MRA and DSA images from one patient, a 27-year-old woman with a posterior fossa arteriovenous malformation (AVM). We then analyzed the characteristics of LSAs using a custom data analysis method with MatLab for quantitative analysis. Analysis of LSA images included shape and number of branches and origins, findings that are essential and useful for quantification of LSA abnormalities in both healthy controls and patients. Ultra-high-field MRA provided clear anatomic delineation of the LSAs, thereby suggesting that 7.0-T MRA may be a promising technique for microvascular imaging of the LSAs.
Kang
Chang-Ki
CK
Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
Park
Cheol-Wan
CW
Han
Jae-Yong
JY
Kim
Sang-Hoon
SH
Park
Chan-A
CA
Kim
Kyoung-Nam
KN
Hong
Suk-Min
SM
Kim
Young-Bo
YB
Lee
Kendall H
KH
Cho
Zang-Hee
ZH
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000473:pathology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity