title: In vivo high-resolution MR imaging of symptomatic and asymptomatic middle cerebral artery atherosclerotic stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, the technique of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has been developed to depict intracranial artery wall. We aimed to compare the vessel wall properties between symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic middle cerebral arteries (MCA) using HR-MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 26 patients with symptomatic and 35 patients with asymptomatic MCA stenosis. Routine cranial MRI, magnetic resonance angiography and HR-MRI were performed on each patient. The cross-sectional images of MCA wall on HR-MRI were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of MCA stenosis was similar between the two groups (67.9% vs 63.9%, P=0.327). On HR-MRI, eccentric plaques were observed in 26 (100%) symptomatic and 28 (80%) asymptomatic stenosis. In the remaining seven (20%) asymptomatic stenosis, only constrictive remodeling (vessel shrinkage) was observed. Compared with the asymptomatic group, symptomatic MCA stenosis had a larger wall area (P<0.001), greater remodeling ratio (P<0.001), higher prevalence of expansive remodeling (outward expansion of the vessel wall) (P=0.003) and lower prevalence of constrictive remodeling (P=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different vessel wall properties on HR-MRI were observed between symptomatic and asymptomatic MCA stenosis. Further prospective studies are required to investigate whether HR-MRI is a helpful tool in stratifying stroke risk in patients with MCA atherosclerotic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Dongcheng Strict, Shuaifuyuan 1, Beijing 100730, China. xuwhpumch@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Wei-Hai
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ming-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Li-Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zheng-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012306:Risk