[Clinical study of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in lacunar cerebral infarction].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical application of susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWAN) in lacunar cerebral infarction imaging.


METHODS
Forty-two cases of lacunar cerebral infarction, including 18 complicated by high blood pressure, 4 by type 2 diabetes and 12 by both high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, underwent examinations with SWAN and conventional MRI sequences (including GRE sequence T(1) and T(2), T(2) gradient echo, T(2) FLAIR, DWI). The imaging data were analyzed in comparison with the clinical data of the patients.


RESULTS
In 23 patients with lacunar cerebral infarction, intracerebral micro-hemorrhage displayed point-like, round and oval low signal on SWAN. A total of 123 lesions were identified, distributing from the cortical, subcortical, basal ganglia, thalamus, brain stem to the cerebellum. The conventional sequences were more sensitive in detecting the majority of lacunar cerebral infarction than SWAN, while the latter showed better performance in displaying cerebral micro-hemorrhage, tiny blood vessels and small vascular malformations as well as other small vascular diseases. SWAN was superior to other sequences in showing lacunar cerebral infarction complicated by cerebral micro-hemorrhages.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI SWAN can better display lacunar cerebral infarction associated with cerebral micro-hemorrhages and small veins in the infract region. Identification of the micro-hemorrhages in lacunar cerebral infarction can be critical in determining the proper treatments. Patients with lacunar cerebral infarction are likely to have cerebral micro-hemorrhages in close relation to the number of lacunar infarction sites. The cerebral micro-hemorrhages and lacunar cerebral infraction are both signs of micro-vessel damage of the brain.
Zhao
De-qiang
DQ
Huiqiao Department, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Pan
Su-yue
SY
Chne
Jian-hui
JH
Wang
Jing-xin
JX
D000368:Aged; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity