Three-tesla magnetic resonance imaging study of cerebral microbleeds in patients with ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to analyse the distribution of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients with ischemic stroke and study the relationship between CMBs and the severity of old lacunar infarcts and cerebral white matter changes.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 247 consecutive inpatients with ischemic stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of these inpatients were observed. CMBs were counted respectively according to their locations, including the corticosubcortical regions, basal ganglia, thalami, brainstem and cerebellum. The number of the old lacunes and the severity of the cerebral white matter changes were also recorded. Based on the occurrence of CMBs, the patients were divided into two groups (72 patients with CMBs; 175 patients without CMBs).


RESULTS
The most common location of CMBs in patients with ischemic stroke was the basal ganglia, followed by the corticosubcortical region, the thalami, the brainstem and the cerebellum. The severity of CMBs was closely correlated with the severity of lacunar infarcts and cerebral white matter changes, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CMBs are closely related with cerebral microangiopathy and may be a marker of advanced stage cerebral microangiopathy.
Han
Jiancheng
J
Neuroimaging Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Gao
Peiyi
P
Lin
Yan
Y
Zhang
Jihong
J
Xu
Lei
L
Xue
Jing
J
D000368:Aged; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology